Project Arts Centre presents
Project launch: 31 August 2018 6-8pm
Join us for the launch of Active Archive – Slow Institution, a major research project that will delve into Project’s rich 50+ year history, on Thursday 30 August from 6 to 8 pm.
The event that marks the launch of the project will present a recently recovered 16mm documentary, a portrait of the former Dollard Print Works that housed Project between 1974 and 1998 made by artist Brian Hand during the last days of the building.
The screening will be followed by a conversation between Brian Hand and Curator of Visual Arts Lívia Páldi.
Active Archive – Slow Institution is a major research project and exhibitions that delves into Project’s rich 50+ year history, uncovering the history (or rather histories) of one of Ireland’s oldest public art institutions.
One of the driving forces behind developing Active Archive – Slow Institution is to look at what future proposals for transformation are inscribed within Project’s manifold history. The studying and interrogation of documents and archival artefacts not only supports the recovering of the history of one of Ireland’s oldest art centres but also approaches that history from the perspective of pressing contemporary issues. Through this new lens we can re-evaluate the changing conditions of artistic labour and production, the agency of artistic and curatorial work in relation to economic, social, and political institutions of power, as well as the status of exhibitions and the role of public institutions.
For four months the gallery will be transformed into research-archive-work-meeting space, undertaking a study of documents and archives that will uncover the history (or rather histories) of one of Ireland’s oldest public art institutions. Its space will host discussions and conversations, both with professionals and the wider public, to read Project’s histories via the wider context of cultural institutional, political, social and intellectual histories, including the building development of Temple Bar, gender representation, the history of Irish feminism, and LGBTQ rights.
‘Active Archive – Slow Institution’ is initiated by Lívia Páldi
Credits
Image:
PROJECT ‘98, 16mm film transferred to digital, b/w, sound
Film and editing: Brian Hand 1998/2018
Courtesy the artist and Project Arts Centre, Dublin
Supported by Project Arts Centre within the framework of ‘Active Archive – Slow Institution’
Kind words Spoken
Special thanks to Valerie Connor, Brian Hand, Ronan McCrea, Maurice O’Connell and Project’s production team.
Funding
Project Arts Centre is proud to be supported by the Arts Council Ireland and Dublin City Council.
Disclaimer
Brian Hand’s art practice is broadly concerned with creatively exploring and researching events, spaces, agents, and ideas from the past. Hand has made many temporary public works and time-based installations, and often in site-responsive ways. He believes that we can find alternative images in the past that disrupt the naturalness of the present. Hand has worked on several collaborative projects with Orla Ryan.
