From printing to photography, celebrating pink and perusing sculptures in pretty gardens, there’s plenty of visual inspiration on show this summer …
Continuum, Elizabeth Cope, Claremorris Gallery, Co Mayo
For fans of Elizabeth Cope, this exhibition presents new large-scale paintings by the artist, exhibited alongside some of her significant works, which spans more than 50 years. As the title suggests there is a seamless flow between these works. Each painting is a snapshot of a moment in Cope’s visual voyage. She explains, “I paint through the chaos of everyday life, if I were to wait for a quiet moment I would never paint. I believe that painting should also be like dancing and that the real ‘work of art’ is not so much the canvas when the paint is dry, but rather the physical rhythm of the process of painting it.” Continuum runs until July 27 and thereafter by appointment; www.claremorrisgallery.ie.
A City of Words, MoLI, Dublin 2
This exhibition celebrates the collection of the Dublin Writers Museum, which from opening in 1991 on Parnell Square to its closure in 2020, amassed a collection of rare first editions, specially commissioned bronze busts as well as personal items and intriguing mementos connected to the city’s writers. Following its closure, the museum collection was transferred to MoLI to ensure its future safekeeping. Highlights of the collection on display include Samuel Beckett’s telephone from his Paris apartment, Brendan Behan’s typewriter and union membership card, Mary Lavin’s childhood teddy bear, Frank O’Connor’s spectacles, Oliver St John Gogarty’s flying goggles and letters from Sean O’Casey, alongside rare editions of works by WB Yeats, Katharine Tynan, Edna O’Brien, and Bram Stoker; www.moli.ie.
Sculpture Exhibition, The Montenotte, Co Cork
In collaboration with The Kildare Gallery, this year’s sculpture exhibition in the pretty Victorian Gardens at The Montenotte hotel is titled “Take Your Imagination on a Journey of Wonder”. The exhibition features a collection of contemporary works from renowned and emerging Irish and international sculptors such as Dawn Conn, Merce Canadell, Simon Hayes, Valentin Bostan and Petr Holece. After browsing, enjoy a cuppa or Montenotte G&T on the terrace where views over the city are equally inspiring; www.themontenottehotel.com.
Turning Turns 40, National Design & Craft Gallery, Kilkenny
This exhibition celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Irish Woodturners Guild (IWG) and is curated by Sarah Ross, who explains: “It is an honour to share the woodturners’ passion for their craft and the beauty of the natural materials they use to create the exquisitely turned forms that are on display. Bringing together these finely crafted sculptural and functional forms, we are reminded of the vulnerability of our natural world. The sense of community that the Guild embodies demonstrates the power of like-minded people to highlight the devastating effect of ash dieback disease. Furthermore, it is this community that fosters the sharing of skills and knowledge, ensuring the art of woodturning does not die.” The exhibition continues in Kilkenny until July 27 and will then be on show at other venues including Leitrim Design House, Co Leitrim, The RDS, Dublin 4, and Craft NI Gallery in Belfast; www.dcci.ie.
Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition, Ballymaloe House Hotel, Co Cork
Ballymaloe’s annual Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition is celebrating its tenth year this summer. The exhibition, which runs until September 1, is curated by Richie Scott, the owner of Richard Scott Sculpture, and shows diverse works by more than 23 Irish and international sculptors. The exhibition is open daily from 9am to 9pm for self-guided tours. A free brochure is available at the exhibition, there is no admission fee, and pre-bookings are not needed. A guided tour by Richie Scott is complimentary to hotel guests on July 18 and 25 at 5:30pm; www.ballymaloehouse.ie.
Acoustic Oceans, Mark Francis, Kerlin Gallery
Mark Francis’ paintings have been inspired by his fascination with contemporary science and this new body of work is his response to the speed and complexity of the information age, interpreting data and binary sequences. Vertical, vibrant stripes create a sense of movement and energy that expand outwards. Francis sees each colour and line in his paintings as information for the viewer to decode. Sound is also a key component of these new paintings, reflected in the exhibition title. Francis describes the construction of his paintings as “like an improvised abstract noise” that can be both “melodic and chaotic”. For the artist, sound transforms into colour, and can “reflect the diverse emotions and experiences that shape our understanding of the universe”. The exhibition runs until August 24; www.kerlin.ie.
Pink Is My Colour Group Show, Olivier Cornet Gallery
This summer group show celebrates the many nuances of the colour pink and is inspired by its influence in popular culture. In art terms, it wasn’t until the Renaissance that pink began to feature as part of an artist’s palette (it’s quite rare in nature, except in flowers). In fashion and interior design it was popularised in the 18th century (particularly seen in Japanese works) though it wasn’t until the 20th century that it gained its gender associations (pink, interestingly, was seen as a masculine colour in the 1920s). This show invites viewers to look at how artists use the colour pink in their work, either as a background accent colour or as a main character. The artists featured include Hugh Cummins, Mary A Fitzgerald (pictured), David Fox, Nickie Hayden, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, Miriam McConnon, Sheila Naughton, Yanny Petters, Kelly Ratchford, Vicky Smith and invited artists Bernadette Doolan, Joe Dunne RHA, Hannah Ní Mhaonaigh and Noël O’Callaghan. The exhibition runs until July 31; www.oliviercornetgallery.com.
MÓR, Graphic Studio Dublin, Dublin 1
Original prints are not frequently made in expansive dimensions, partially due to the physical constraints that the various mediums and printmaking apparatus can impose upon artists. This show presents work by artists who have pushed the limits of size constraints including Ed Miliano, Frea Buckler, Mark Francis, Grainne Cuffe, Cliona Doyle, Gwen O’Dowd, Elke Thonnes, Robert Russell, Mateja Smic, Kate MacDonagh, Niall Naessens, Oona Hyland, Maria Atanackovic and more. The exhibition includes large scale etchings, screenprints, carborundums, lithographs, and woodcut prints. It runs until August 3; www.graphicstudiodublin.com.
Summer at IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin
If you haven’t been to IMMA yet there is a vibrant summer programme of free events that includes exhibitions, performances, screenings, talks, workshops, tours and more, taking place until August. Two new exhibitions to check out include “Take a Breath” which provides an historical, social, political, and personal examination of breathing; and “When the body says Yes” an immersive video installation by Dutch artist Melanie Bonajo presented in IMMA’s 17th-century Baroque Chapel. For a full programme visit www.imma.ie.
Bokeh, SO Fine Art Editions, Dublin 2
This annual exhibition of contemporary photography runs until August 10. “Bokeh” is the term used to describe the artistic blurring effect seen in the out-of-focus areas of a photograph taken with a narrow depth of field. The term is derived from the Japanese word “boke”, which translates as blur or haziness. It adds depth and visual appeal to the overall composition of an image. The photographers showcased in this exhibition have an understanding of various advanced photographic techniques, including the manipulation of bokeh to enhance the visual impact of their work. Two Japanese photographers feature in this year’s exhibition – Sudi and Toshiya Watanabe – alongside Irish and international photographers Conor Horgan, Aisling McCoy, Hugh O’Conor, Linda Plunkett, Amelia Stein, David Stephenson and Dominic Turner; www.sofinearteditions.com.
