MAIN GALLERYSat 9th June - 26th August
Brian Duggan
Everything can be done, in principle
A new art work by Brian Duggan curated by Helen Carey and commissioned by VISUAL, Carlow Local Authority Arts Office and Éigse Carlow Arts Festival. Ground Floor Galleries, VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow. Opens Saturday 9th June 2012.
In an invitation to inhabit a story, and its cinematic interpretation, from 122 years ago, Brian Duggan’s work Everything can be done, in principle transports the public into a timber and canvas barn at America’s mid western frontier, at the time of the Johnson County War in Wyoming.
Duggan asks participants to roller skate in costume, to imagine the joyfulness of community, against the backdrop of dirt and corruption, in this portal in VISUAL’s extraordinary Galleries, just as the communities did in Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate (1980).
Within this new commission, Duggan recognises the resilient human spirit in powerless communities and its standoffs with official power.
Cimino's film Heaven’s Gate is a film which broke the rules and supported true art through an often ruthless pursuit of authenticity, even to the extent of challenging the prevailing powerful studio system. Often seen as the beginning of money men era, Heaven’s Gate marked a changing moment for maverick auteur film directing and the role of the producer. It also branded the Western in clear class-struggle, selected social agenda terms.
The summer season at VISUAL’s Galleries sees a collaboration between VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow Local Authorities Arts Office and The Éigse Carlow Arts Festival. This partnership makes possible the ambitious vision of artist Brian Duggan and curator Helen Carey. Everythingcan be done, in principle will bring to Carlow a Visual Art installation of spectacle and scale, seeking to engage all within. This timely collaboration marks a watershed moment for Irish arts and the cooperative potential that communities hold as a vital resource.
Artist Brian Duggan (b.1971) lives and works in Dublin. His practice examines the prevailing conditions when things go wrong, and the sites of stress and breakage. Citing well known historical events as well as the overlooked small dramas of the everyday, he brings physical challenges into the gallery to ask question, to exert pressure and to push boundaries.
Activities will take place throughout the period of the exhibition, both inside and outside the constructed barn, in the adjoining galleries and theatre, relating to this installation.
These will include:
Panel Discussion
Date 8th June 4pm - 5.30pm
Ticket Free event, book through box office (limited seating)
This will be followed by the Opening Night reception at 6pm.
