The theme of 1916 and the centenary of The Rising rings loudly in the shows currently on display in Ireland’s galleries. You can see a full itinerary of cultural events associated with the celebrations here. This cultural behemoth can be all encompassing so if you looking for a break from this or for something a little different, below are a selection of excellent shows currently on around Ireland. Words by Aidan Kelly Murphy.
What: AFFECTIVE ENTITIES
Where: CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery, Cork
When: 5th to 26th March
As part of their Make 2016 Symposium: Objects and Revolution, CIT invited a selection of previous students and artist Marie Brett to create a series of work looking at the subject of trauma and loss. The resulting engagement by the artists, entitled AFFECTIVE ENTITIES, sees a fascinating body of work that looks at manifestation of these themes within objects and the materials that form them.
Full details on the show are available here.
Limerick: “one of the most ambitious and expansive bodies of work”
What: Adventure: Capital, The Irish Tour
Where: Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick
When: 21st January to 24th March
Commissioned for the Irish Pavilion at the 2015 Venice Biennale, Adventure: Capital is the one of the most ambitious and expansive bodies of work by Irish artist Sean Lynch yet. The show looks at wide variety of topics, taking in such diverse subjects as public art at airports and traffic roundabouts. Tracking the evolution of public spaces and our response to them, the work is ultimately a look at the capital that is associated with the creation of these objects. The work is being shown alongside a selection of Lynch’s previous work. Pictured above and top.
Full details on the show are available here.
Dublin: “This show is perfect introduction to the works of the artists”
What: Effleurements
Where: Olivier Cornet Gallery, Dublin
When: 13th March to 6th April
Effleurement is French word that describes the delicate process of removing a flower’s head. Effleurements is a new a group show in the Olivier Cornet Gallery featuring Brad Gray, Claire Halpin, Miriam McConnon, and Freda Rupp. A collection of work that echos the delicacy required to remove a flower head but which also echoes the transformation and almost destructive nature of that act. This show is a perfect introduction to the works of the artists on show.
Full details on the show are available here.
Sligo: “both thought-provoking and evocative”
What: E.gress
Where: The Model Sligo, Sligo
When: 3rd March to 28th April
A collaboration between musician Kevin O’Shanahan and artist Marie Brett, E.gress is an emotional video that looks at the life and the world of a dementia sufferer through their adaptation to their current surroundings as well as their past experiences. A respectful and well crafted video portrait, E.gress is both thought-provoking and evocative.
Full details on the show are available here.
