Painting is a living process. Non-figurative art employs a language; like music it is a dialogue involving the creator, performer and audience. Frederic Thursz, Seán Scully, Carmengloria Morales, Seán Shanahan and Ruth Root manifest contemporary concerns through this language, demonstrating its breathtaking diversity while superficially appearing to be limited.

These artists have resisted mass culture, which threatens to dominate visual thinking, by concentrating on the essentials and presenting intense, highly sensual works of form and colour. Unique Act affords us an opportunity to evaluate contemporary non-figurative painting as presented by these artists. Through a common medium they address different concerns in their highly individualised practices. Each of them has defied labelling.

None of them was or is a member of a movement.