• Picture This – Your National Visual Arts Guide: Collection

    September 13, 2016 - By 

    Collections come in many sizes, outputs and forms. They can be collated by the similarity in object or output, they can also be defined by a universal signifier such as a time, artist or theme. In this edition of The Thin Air’s Picture This we see this idea manifested in four of its many tropes. In Wexford we see a collection of national and international artists explore the idea of a residency and it’s impact on an artist’s practice. Galway also presents us a collection of artists, this time all of the Finnish and all of them discussing the same…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Journeys

    August 30, 2016 - By 

    Journeys come in many sizes, shapes and forms. They can be physical, they can be metaphorical, in truth they can be anything. The four shows covered in this edition of Picture This represent four journeys the artists have taken along the way to the final show hosted in each gallery. We see a physical journey in VISUAL Carlow as Enda McCarthy retraces the steps barges took as he travels from Dublin to Carlow. In Dublin we see IMMA’s journey over the last 10 years as she expands her collection in the face of financial adversity. Katrina Palmer takes her audience…

  • Picture This – Your National Visual Arts Guide: August Bank Holiday

    July 29, 2016 - By 

    August is upon us this weekend. The business end of the summer has arrived, and with it the penultimate Bank Holiday Weekend of the year. We’ve squeezed an extra day off from the boss (hopefully) and Ireland’s galleries have a host of great shows on offer. In Cork we see an exploration of the artist as a wanderer and recorder, with a host of international artist on display in the Lewis Glucksman Gallery. In Drogheda the Marmite Prize for Painting arrives on these shores for the first time with Highlanes Gallery playing host. The West provides refuge for a trio…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Bank Holiday Weekend

    May 1, 2016 - By 

    Paul Seawright – News Operations III Ah the summer. Will it come? Shall we be teased again for another few months? This weekend’s Bank Holiday is scheduled to be a washout around the country. Needless to say we here at The Thin Air strongly hope this prediction is wrong, but if not there are plenty of exhibitions happening around the country to keep you entertained – and dry! Community, environment and reflection form common themes across the exhibitions highlighted in this edition of Picture This. Environment, in both the natural sense and as a habitat, from the structure of Neomorph…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Fool’s Weekend

    April 1, 2016 - By 

    The biggest cultural and historical weekend these shores have ever seen may have passed but there are still a treasure trove of exhibitions and events on nationally to continue the cultural outpouring. In this installment of Picture This, following on from visual and musical spectacles of last weekend, we’re throwing light on video and music themed shows on nationwide. From personal accounts of childhood, to comments on city architect and pieces about relationships these is something on for all to enjoy. Words by Aidan Kelly Murphy. Belfast: “An exploration of the mythologies of past events and relationships.” What: Other &…

  • Picture This: Your National Visual Arts Guide – Easter Weekend

    March 18, 2016 - By 

    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…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (11/11)

    November 11, 2015 - By 

    If you don’t have a car, buddy up with someone who does, because you might need one of you are going to get to all the great stuff happening this week across Ireland. Failing that, obviously just head out to the ones closest to you (I won’t judge, I don’t drive either). Limerick and Galway are the places to be this week, and I can really recommend that you make the effort to head out to some of the events and exhibitions they have going on over the next couple of days. (See below) On Friday at 9.30 there is…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (3/11)

    November 3, 2015 - By 

    Well, it’s now November. I can’t believe it! The beginning of the month can only mean one thing: Late Night Art, or ‘First Thursday’. That is, on the first Thursday of the month many  galleries in Belfast open their doors late, to entice you lovely viewers in to see what’s new. So, with that being said, there is plenty to keep you going for the next week. Also, not forgetting that this is ‘Belfast Design Week’ there are lots of events happening across the town, check out their schedule here. To coincide with Belfast Design Week, the Arts and Disability Forum…

  • Visual Arts Outlook (29/9)

    September 29, 2015 - By 

    The Turner Prize opens this week at Tramway in Glasgow. I know this isn’t actually in Ireland, and this is an Irish Arts Roundup, but as I endeavour to keep you all updated with the important stuff that’s going on, I thought I’d include it this week. Afterall Glasgow isn’t that far away and I hear flights are cheap at the moment! This is a particularly good one to check out as it’s in the beautiful Tramway and features this year’s shortlisted artists Assemble (get my vote), Bonnie Camplin, Janice Kerbel and Nicole Wermers. If you get the chance to…

  • Visual Arts Outlook: Culture Night Belfast Special

    September 15, 2015 - By 

    September is tuning out to be a huge month for arts and culture in Ireland. After last week’s Dublin Gallery Weekend this week we have the massive Culture Night taking place across the country. Whether you’re in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Derry or Limerick, or even one of the many small towns across Ireland taking part in this momentous occasion, this is set to be a fantastic night of music, art, dance and performance that is not to be missed. If you are in Dublin check out the lineup here. As I am a local of the fair north city of Belfast,…