A portrait of the artist, Liam Breandán de Frinse.

Liam Breandán de Frinse is one of Ireland’s most accomplished multimedia artists, distinguished principally as a painter, but also well-known as an installation artist and sculptor. In addition he is a performance poet and writer, and has been involved with television and art films.

Liam reminisces about his apprenticeship in Harland and Wolff before he decided to become a full time artist. Realising he was ‘was born to be an artist’, he attended classes under the influential John Luke, the renowned Belfast artist.

The film integrates Liam’s video diary revealing his frustrations and inner thoughts as he frantically works towards the deadline to complete his work for a one-man exhibition in the Tom Caldwell Gallery. Liam learnt late in life that he was adopted and so began his journal for his biological father and mother, his brothers and sisters, all now living in Australia, to understand who he was.

The film is dedicated to Marion de Frinse, Liam’s lifetime partner who passed away. Marion’s death permeated Liam’s paintings from his last exhibition, some consider it was his best work. The work helped Liam through a painful grieving process and his exhibition celebrates the wild and exotic flowers that grow in the garden that he and Marion loved to gaze at from their kitchen.

The film concludes with Liam’s work being considered by writer and art critic Ian Hill, gallery owner Chris Caldwell and musician and arts worker, Brendan Popplestone.