Northern Ireland at the Venice Biennale in 2007 The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the British Council are pleased to announce that Hugh Mulholland will once again be the curator for Northern Ireland’s showcase art exhibition at next year’s 52nd Venice Biennale. Hugh curated The Nature of Things exhibition in 2005 which was Northern Ireland’s first presentation at the Biennale and has once again been selected from a strong field of candidates with his plan for a solo show, featuring artist Willie Doherty. Willie is one of Northern Ireland’s highest profile artists and an established name in the international contemporary art scene. The artist and curator will work together to present a new body of work in Venice.
“The Arts Council is delighted once more to be working with the British Council to help showcase the very best of Northern Ireland’s visual arts at the world-renowned Venice Biennale in 2007. This is a great opportunity to build upon the success of last year’s event, and a chance to reinforce the growing prestige of the arts from Northern Ireland. I am confident that a solo show by an artist as accomplished as Willie Doherty will have a huge impact on the international art world and will help to draw attention to the excellence of arts practice taking place throughout Northern Ireland” Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland “This fresh new exhibition of previously unseen work from one of Northern Ireland’s foremost artists, Willie Doherty, is sure to stand out from the crowd in Venice. It’s a coup for British Council and the Arts Council to be able to unveil world-class work at the world’s leading contemporary art event. Furthermore, we’re delighted to be working once again with Hugh Mulholland, whose expertise and curatorial courage has produced the most imaginative show possible for Northern Ireland at Venice in 2007”. Colm McGivern, Director, British Council, Northern Ireland "I am delighted to be given this chance to further develop my ideas for the Venice Biennale after the tremendous success of last year’s exhibition. On this occasion I am proposing a very different exhibition - while the artists who took part in last year’s exhibition were for the most part just beginning their international careers, this year I have selected Willie Doherty, Northern Ireland’s most internationally-recognised artist. I am very excited to be working with an artist of Willie’s standing and I am confident that we will put together a fantastic show in Venice" Hugh Mulholland, Curator of Venice Biennale for Northern Ireland 2007 Northern Ireland ’s participation at the Venice Biennale is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, The British Council and The Department of Culture Arts and Leisure.
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