DABF25 Commission: Austin Hearne, 'Terrible Certainty'

Austin Hearne’s painting triptych Terrible Certainty takes its title from a track by German trash metal band Kreator, a macabre anthem beloved by the artist who during the late 1980s and 1990s. Hearne was coming to terms with his homosexuality in this era of widespread homophobia, hypocrisy and vitriol pedalled by Church, State and wider society. The unfolding AIDS crisis was used to further demean and demonise gay men. During this time, his mother was diagnosed with leukaemia, from which she eventually died. The track Terrible Certainty, and other metal and goth music focussing on dread, death and loss, ironically soothed the artist during these challenging and formative years. Terrible Certainty is a work in progress and marks the beginning of a new expansive project titled Luke, Kim and Amy which will document, detail and attend to this period of Hearne’s life.

Austin Hearne uses photography, painting and installation to creative immersive narrative artworks which reflect on socio-political concerns around the Roman Catholic Church and more intimate stories inspired by the artist’s homosexuality, working class origins, identity, and family history. Recent solos projects include: Raymo’s Spawn, Garter Lane, Co. Waterford (2024), as part of the episodic project The Raymo series; Requiem for Raymo, the RHA Gallery (2023); Slabs, The Complex, Dublin (2021); and Love Letters To Cardinal Raymo, Gorey School of Art, Co. Wexford (2021). Select group shows include Staying With The Trouble, IMMA, Dublin and Confessions, Lismore Castle Arts, Waterford.