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Noughties but Nice: 21st Century Irish Art

10 September 2009 - 15 January 2010

Aideen BARRY | Sarah BROWNE | Amanda COOGAN | Denis CONNOLLY / Anne CLEARY | Joe DUGGAN | Ciara FINNEGAN | Sean LYNCH | Andrew KEARNEY | Tom MOLLOY | Caroline MCCARTHY, | Seamus NOLAN | Eamon O’KANE | John SHINNORS

Noughties but Nice: 21^st 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 on paper and canvas juxtaposed with digital media, participatory and experiential works. The exhibition will be officially opened at 7pm on Thursday 10^th 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 experiences through Andrew Kearney’s room-size pulsating Orb, which responds to sounds outside the gallery and Connolly / Cleary’s interactive video installation Here & There, 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 design and production studio. Visitors experience Amanda Coogan ’s iconic documented performance Adoration of the Chloe Handbag. Further reflecting on our obsession with consumerism, Caroline McCarthy and Seamus Nolan make 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. 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 45 first women of the USA , and Ciara Finnegan's lyrical documentary film looks at an active age group trying out their ability to dance.

Surveying current practice from the brush stroke to digital media, Noughties but Nice: 21^st 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 human environment through an exciting diversity of mediums.   

Noughties but Nice: 21^st Century Irish Art will premier in Limerick City Gallery of Art before touring to Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre in Donegal, Solstice Arts Centre in Navan, Meath and VISUAL in Carlow throughout 2010.  

Curated by Mike Fitzpatrick and Susan Holland, the exhibition is accompanied by a full colour catalogue.