‘The Colours of Ulysses’ a +20 year art project by Irish artist Natalie Forrester.
Join me on my journey as I create 1 artwork per page of James Joyce’s artwork Ulysses…
“Yes! It’s true! I have committed to creating 1 artwork per page of James Joyce’s book Ulysses. The edition I am drawing my inspiration from is Penguin, with ‘accessibility to all’ in mind. As the Penguin edition of Ulysses has 933 pages, I estimate it will take over two decades to complete. I will be focusing on the colours Joyce describes on each page, creating unique abstract art, the series is called ‘The Colours of Ulysses’.
The first artworks have been exhibited for the first time in The Space Gallery, Budapest on the 101st anniversary of Ulysses’ publication 2nd February 2023. The art exhibition was in association with the Embassy of Ireland celebrating creative women as part of the global Saint Brigid’s Day events. The exhibition was opened by Irish Ambassador Ronan Gargan on 1st February 2023.
Join me on my journey! Pick up a Penguin version of Ulysses and see if you can see the colours I see, or simply scroll down to enter your email below to get updated on when new pages are ready” – Natalie Forrester
View the 2nd painting of 933 measuring 60x46cm original artwork Ulysses Page #002 here
Ulysses, by James Joyce Page 002 (Penguin Edition) get it here on Amazon
“—Thanks, old chap, he cried briskly. That will do nicely.
Switch off the current, will you?
He skipped off the gunrest and looked gravely at his
watcher, gathering about his legs the loose folds of his gown.
The plump shadowed face and sullen oval jowl recalled a
prelate, patron of arts in the middle ages. A pleasant smile
broke quietly over his lips.
—The mockery of it! he said gaily. Your absurd name, an
ancient Greek!
He pointed his finger in friendly jest and went over to
the parapet, laughing to himself. Stephen Dedalus stepped
up, followed him wearily halfway and sat down on the edge
of the gunrest, watching him still as he propped his mirror
on the parapet, dipped the brush in the bowl and lathered
cheeks and neck.
Buck Mulligan’s gay voice went on.
—My name is absurd too: Malachi Mulligan, two dactyls.
But it has a Hellenic ring, hasn’t it? Tripping and sunny
like the buck himself. We must go to Athens. Will you come
if I can get the aunt to fork out twenty quid?
He laid the brush aside and, laughing with delight, cried:
—Will he come? The jejune jesuit!
Ceasing, he began to shave with care.
—Tell me, Mulligan, Stephen said quietly.
—Yes, my love?
—How long is Haines going to stay in this tower?
Buck Mulligan showed a shaven cheek over his right
shoulder.
—God, isn’t he dreadful? he said frankly. A ponderous
Saxon. He thinks you’re not a gentleman. God, these bloody
English! Bursting with money and indigestion. Because he
comes from Oxford. You know,”
– Ulysses, by James Joyce Page #002
