40/40/40
Touring exhibition from the collection of the OPW
March–April: Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Madrid, Spain
May–June: Biblioteka Uniwersytecka w Warszawie, Warsaw, Poland
June–July: Palazzo Della Farnesina, Rome, Italy
The 40/40/40 exhibition comprises works from the Office of Public Works (OPW) managed State Art Collection by 40 artists under the age of 40, who are Irish or are based in Ireland. The exhibition includes photography, drawing, sculpture and painting to represent the diversity of current visual art practices which have been drawn from over 15,000 pieces managed by OPW that are usually located in the public buildings throughout Ireland.
Reviewing the collection, Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton TD, said:
“Our Presidency is an opportunity to help provide leadership on critical policy issues in Europe, but is also an opportunity for us to showcase Ireland on a European and world stage. This exhibition shows another side of Ireland from the one that may have dominated European headlines for the last few years – an Ireland that is young, diverse, creative and confident.”
Minister of State with Special Responsibilty for the Office of Public Works Brian Hayes said:
“This exhibition will bring the work of talented young artists in Ireland to the attention of audiences in some of the cultural centres of Europe. It is a statement of the strength of our artistic community as well as our strong commitment and connectedness to Europe. ”
The exhibition will be inaugurated in the Conde Duque Cultural Centre in Madrid on 20 March and is also scheduled to travel to Warsaw and Rome during the Irish Presidency. The exhibition is being organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Office of Public Works. The Ministers expressed their strong appreciation of the excellent cooperation that their staff and the Embassies in each country had encountered from all the venues hosting the exhibition. The exhibition will be the occasion in each location for the wider promotion of Ireland.