As part of its programme for the summer exhibition “Giacometti: From Life”, Irish artist and fashion designer Richard Malone begins an artist residency at the National Gallery of Ireland today …
“Artist residencies at the National Gallery of Ireland are designed to connect contemporary Irish arts practice and research with historical artists, exhibitions and collections. Since 2017, residencies have provided space, support and opportunity to respond, experiment and create,” explains Sinéad Rice, Head of Education at the National Gallery of Ireland. “We hope that Richard’s work will encourage our audiences to explore the exhibition and the Gallery in a new way.”
Working on site at the Gallery during the months of June and July, drop in sessions will be available, while Malone’s artistic response to the work of sculptor Giacometti will be free for the public to visit throughout the month of August.
No doubt Malone’s response will be interesting given the diversity of his talents from designing, drawing, writing, weaving and performance. His work as a fashion and textile designer has won numerous accolades and is held in some of the world’s most important collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York, The Victoria and Albert Museum London and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.
Malone comments: “I am excited to begin the onsite artist residency, reacting and engaging with the studio practice of Giacometti. Over the past year of planning, I have already had many rewarding conversations with the Gallery’s Education and Curatorial teams, discovering exciting crossovers and synchronicities between our studio work, especially in relation to the body and form. I hope this dedicated period of time can accommodate experimental and bold conversations, renegotiating the expected uses of studio space.”
Need to Know: “Giacometti: From Life” is at the National Gallery of Ireland until September 4. The exhibition features more than 50 works by Alberto Giacometti including bronze and plaster sculptures, paintings, drawings, and prints. It is co-organised by the National Gallery of Ireland and the Fondation Giacometti. Tickets are from €5, with free entry on Mondays before 2pm; www.nationalgallery.ie.
