In Life’s Pocket:
Dublin Artist Miriam McConnon’s new work focuses on domestic objects. Her works have been created to link people to the domesticities in their lives, and to make people reevaluate the meaning these items have to an individual. Her aim is to bring back memories and create nostalgia, so that each visitor to the exhibition leaves with an old association back in their lives. McConnon has made these objects large in scale to intensify the significance they may have in people’s lives. Objects such as suits, stilettos, and dolls will feature. The exhibition runs until the 5th of November at the Olivier Cornet Gallery.
Tribes:
Nina Raine’s ‘Tribes’ comes to Dublin as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. The play, which made its debut in 2010, originated from Nina’s experience of watching a documentary about a deaf couple expecting a baby, who were hoping that their baby would be deaf. This lead Raine to ask the question, ‘are families programmed to be the same, and live in the same environments much like a tribe?’ Are we all destined to adopt the same way of living as our parents? And is there a lack of understanding if someone is an outsider? The play focuses on a Jewish, British Family with three children, one of whom is deaf (Billy). He can lip read but has no sign language. When he encounters a girl who is slowly going deaf and has sign language, it raises many questions about the idea of rituals and outsiders.
Trilogy:
The Smock Alley Theatre will present a series of one man shows by some of the greatest literary minds of the 20th century. Peter Duffy will perform each piece. The first is an adaption of The Great Hunger by Patrick Kavanagh, the second, The Grand Inquisitor by Dostoyevsky, and the third, Wildgoose Lodge inspired by William Carleton. The show will run each night from 13th-23rd of November. Tickets €14-€44.
DX2 Double Duets:
Firkin Crane, the home of dance in Cork, brings two productions to the Project Arts Centre in a double bill. Dylan Quinn Dance Theatre will perform TOST. Enniskillen based dancer Dylan Quinn will work with German dancer Jenny Ecke, musician Andy Garbi, and artist Paddy McCann, to explore the idea of purgatory, or entrapment. It explores it on different levels and perspectives, physically and mentally. The second performance is a duet which examines the value of persistence. Laura Murphy and Rob Heaslip play a couple who go on a series of adventures, and come back to good fortune from persistence. The double bill will be in the Project Arts Centre from 9th-11th November. Tickets €14-€16
Francisco Goya: Prints
Francesco Goya was a highly influential artist, inspiring the likes of Dali and Picasso. Known as the first true modern artist, his paintings expressed real emotion and imagination. Goya was born in 1746, lived at a time of true turbulence in Europe, and is noted for his observations of these events in his artworks. The likes of the Napoleonic Wars, the liberation of the Enlightenment, and the general horrors of day to day life are evident in his work. These raw scenes had a huge impact on surrealist painters in the 20th century and their dark, visceral artworks.
Goya is most noted for his paintings of the Spanish court, which often held underlying criticisms of their rule and politics within them. His images of the Majas, strong female characters are threatening, almost supernatural, one of which was the first non-religious full nude of a female in Western art, ‘La Maja Desnuda’.
Goya is noted to be one of the finest printmakers ever. His prints range from humorous to grotesque, and mostly feature images of war. ‘The Disasters of War’, collection based on the Napoleonic invasion of Spain in 1808, are available to view in the Chester Beatty Library until January. Admission is free.
Vertigo Live with an Orchestra:
Alfred Hitchcock’s thriller Vertigo is coming to the National Concert Hall just in time for Halloween on the 31st if October. The classic film will have music played by the RTE Concert Orchestra, and will be conducted by Anthony Gabriele. Hitchcock is best known for his psychological thrillers, and is a must watch at this time of year. The iconic film will be even more chilling when accompanied by a live orchestra. Tickets €22-€40.
Holly Lloyd – Arts & Events Editor
