Noughties but Nice: 21st Century Irish Art
September 10–November 8 2009
Carnegie Building, Pery Square,
Limerick, Ireland
Aideen BARRY | Sarah BROWNE | Amanda COOGAN | Denis CONNOLLY / Anne CLEARY | Joe DUGGAN | Ciara FINNEGAN | Andrew KEARNEY | Sean LYNCH | Tom MOLLOY | Caroline MCCARTHY | Seamus NOLAN | Eamon O’KANE | John SHINNORS
Curated by Mike Fitzpatrick and Susan Holland
Noughties but Nice: 21st Century Irish Art surveys the extensive terrain of art made in Ireland during the first decade of this millennium. This exhibition selects some of the most exciting contemporary master-works of the Noughties, including seminal works by leading Irish artists. Audience engagement is a central element of this exhibition; the selection includes high impact works in sculpture and on canvas juxtaposed with digital media, participatory and experiential works. The exhibition will be officially opened at 7pm on Thursday 10th September by Dr. Martin Mansergh TD, Minister of State at the Department of Finance with special responsibility for the Arts.
Working with thirteen high profile artists the exhibition presents a playful and exciting exploration of contemporary art. Experiential works draw audiences into new sensory engagements through Andrew Kearney‘s room-size, light-pulsing orb, which responds to sounds outside the gallery and Connolly / Cleary‘s interactive video installation Plus/Minus, placing the viewer within the film. John Shinnors presents his eighteen part painting series Scarecrow Portraits, which confronts the viewer through strong aesthetic and dramatic scale. Eamon O’Kane investigates production and communal usage inviting the visitor to participate in his DIY furniture fabrication studio. Visitors experience Amanda Coogan‘s iconic documented performance Adoration. Further reflecting on our obsession with consumerism, Caroline McCarthy and Seamus Nolan present sculptural objects which reveal their fascination with the use of materials discarded by society. The compelling works of Sarah Browne, Joe Duggan and Sean Lynch take very differing, enquiring views on how values are determined in social contexts. Ciara Finnegan‘s lyrical documentary film looks at an active age groups’ collaborations choreographing a dance, while Aideen Barry‘s new film work playfully investigates the effects of personal and societal pressures. Tom Molloy presents a delicate series of cross-stitch portraits of the forty-four First Ladies of the USA.
Surveying current practice from the brush stroke to digital media, Noughties but Nice: 21st Century Irish Art seeks to demonstrate the strength and energy of contemporary Irish art. The central focus determining this exhibition is visual and sensory excitement for viewers through the representation of a diverse selection of contemporary Irish practice. These works are juxtaposed together because they share an interest in playful exploration of human nature and the contemporary environment through an exciting diversity of mediums.
Noughties but Nice: 21st Century Irish Art is funded by The Arts Council of Ireland as a touring pilot in Visual Arts. The exhibition will premier in Limerick City Gallery of Art before touring to Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Donegal (2nd February – 20th March 2010), Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Meath (2nd April – 8th May 2010), and VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow (21st May – 3rd July 2010).
Noughties but Nice: 21st Century Irish Art is accompanied by a full colour, 72 page catalogue. ISBN 978-0-9553668-9-5
LIMERICK CITY GALLERY OF ART
Part of Limerick City Council. Supported by the Arts Council, Shannon Development and Fáilte Ireland
Open 7 days. Admission is FREE
W: www.gallery.limerick.ie T: +353 (0)61 310633 E: artgallery@limerickcity.ie
