Northern Ireland artist making waves in Venice |
23/05/2007
A group of Northern Ireland’s leading artists joined senior politicians, the Arts Council and British Council at a special reception in Belfast today (Wednesday May 23rd), to wish Derry artist, Willie Doherty, success as Northern Ireland’s representative at the art world’s most eagerly anticipated showcase event - the Venice Biennale 2007. Doherty, who has twice been nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize, joins a field of over 64 nations represented by some of the world’s most exciting artists, including fellow Turner nominee, Tracey Emin.
This is only the second time that there has been an official Northern Ireland exhibition at the influential Venice art festival. This year’s exhibition, which opens at the beginning of June and runs for five months, is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and the British Council Northern Ireland.
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Arts Council Chief Executive, Roisín McDonough, speaking at the reception in Belfast, said, “Having an artist as accomplished as Willie Doherty to represent Northern Ireland at one of the most important events on the international cultural calendar, will make a strong impression on the art world. The extraordinary visitor numbers and the attention that the Biennale attracts from the world’s press, makes this an unmissable opportunity to redefine Northern Ireland’s image through the positive influence of our arts and culture. Doherty’s exhibition in Venice will boost our growing reputation as a highly creative modern European region.”
Colm McGivern, Director of the British Council said, “Willie Doherty’s work, and his status as one of the leading artists working in the UK and Ireland, ensures that the Northern Ireland presentation will attract the kind of world-wide attention deserved by a place with such an ambitious international agenda. This will be a challenging show, placing the renewal of contemporary Northern Ireland and our cultural confidence right next to the edginess and tensions found here and in other places across the world. It’s a truly international show, with a powerful international resonance and one which we’re proud to support.”
Willie Doherty will present three video film installations at the Venice Biennale, exploring various states of mind - ‘Closure’ made in 2005, ‘Passage’ from 2006, and ‘Ghost Story’, a new piece commissioned this year especially for Venice which features a voice-over by local film actor, Stephen Rea. The exhibition commissioner, Hugh Mulholland, also curated Northern Ireland’s first and highly successful presentation at the 2005 festival.
Doherty said, “I am delighted to represent Northern Ireland at the Venice Biennale. The presence of Northern Ireland at the last biennale provided an insight into the depth of artistic talent to be found here and I am honoured to have the opportunity to consolidate that important message.
A new video work titled Ghost Story, 2007 will be premiered at the Biennale. This work was shot and produced in Northern Ireland and brings together a crew of skilled professionals including the cinematographer Seamus McGarvey and the actor Stephen Rea.
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Ghost Story will be shown alongside two existing works, Closure, 2005 and Passage, 2006. These video works are set against the backdrop of a changing Northern Ireland but they engage with a wider international discussion that reflects the apprehension and uncertainty we all live with.”
Pictures from the opening reception of Northern Ireland’s exhibition at the Venice Biennale 2007
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