Featured Artist
Brian Irvine and John McIlduff
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Artists Biog
Brian Irvine and John McIlduff of Dumbworld have been selected as the Northern Ireland winner of a £190,000 commission for Artists Taking the Lead, one of the major projects for the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.
The NEST was selected by an independent panel of artists and producers from the five projects shortlisted in August from a total of 67 Northern Ireland entries.
The NEST is one of 12 commissions that will be realised across the UK over the next three years, each inspired by their location and celebrating the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. There is one commission for each of the nine English regions and the nations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
‘We’re delighted and honoured that THE NEST has been selected as Northern Ireland’s ‘Artists Taking the Lead’ project. We believe THE NEST is a wonderful and exciting opportunity for thousands of people from all over Northern Ireland to create and take part in a unique and magical artwork.’ (Brian Irvine and John McIlduff)
About the project
The NEST is an ambitious and exciting project that will collect objects and stories from people across Northern Ireland, filming their contributions and constructing a wondrous sculptural Nest-like landscape in Belfast in 2012. The installation will include a performance of a new libretto by Brian Irvine based on the stories tagged to the submitted objects and will be performed by a 500 strong choir and junkyard orchestra. The sculpture and performance will be a magnificent reflection of the diversity of experiences, creativity and voices that make up the Northern Ireland population.
Biographies
Brian Irvine's huge body of work includes orchestral works, chamber music, operas, film scores as well as solo and ensemble pieces. His music is a wild, untamed concoction of all things and has involved commissions and collaborations with many international artists ranging from opera companies and orchestras to filmmakers, choreographers, DJs and free improvisers.
He is currently the Associate Composer with the Ulster Orchestra and together with his own 12-piece ensemble, he has conducted and performed all over the world and appeared at many international festivals to widespread critical acclaim. He has won a number of awards for his music including a British Composers Award for his opera The Tailor’s Daughter and a BBC Radio 3 Jazz Award.
John McIlduff is a writer/filmmaker and stage director. A graduate of Queen’s University, Belfast and L’École de Theatre Jacques Lecoq, has worked throughout Europe directing productions including an adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s “Crime and Punishment”, a French language version of “A Streetcar named Desire” and the hugely successful Italian production, “Mucche Ballerine”. He has made films about fighting cows, pear trees and irresponsible parents which have been screened in festivals from Tehran to Clermont Ferrand, directed commercials for well known brands of washing powder and been awarded the Prix de Qualité from the CNC. As a writer John has written for both opera and soap opera most recently for the French television series 'Un Meilleur Monde'.
