TheModerns

Irishartistsandwritershaveplayedafascinatingroleinthestoryofmodernism,andTheModernstracesthisstorybybringingtogetherexceptionalexamplesofpaintingandsculpture,photography,film,architecture,literature,musicanddesign,ofIrishsignificance,inanexplorationofthedevelopmentofmodernIrelandthroughitsartsintheperiodfromthe1900sto1970s.Itsbroadinterdisciplinarycontextproceedsfromtherecognitionthatartformsarenotmutuallyexclusiveandthattheunderstandingofonemayinformanother.Here,thepaintingsofMainieJellett,EvieHoneandotheradvocatesofEuropeanmodernismarejuxtaposedwiththeaccomplishmentsofdesigner-architectEileenGrayandwriterJamesJoyce.AlsoexaminedaretheworksandinfluenceofJohnMillingtonSynge,PaulHenryandtheYeatsfamily;theimpactofSurrealism;postwarconnectionsamongIrishandBritishartistsandwriters,includingFrancisBacon,LouisleBrocquyandAnthonyCronin;andtheintroductionforthefirsttimeofSamuelBeckettasavisualartistthroughhisworkFilm.TheModernsreflectsthegroundbreakingRoscexhibitionsfromthe1960sand70sonwards.MinimalismandConceptualismandtheemergenceofpostmodernismaretracedintheworksofBrianO'Doherty,BarryFlanagan,MichaelCraig-Martin,SeanScullyandJamesColeman.TheModernsdeclareswhatweknowtobethecase,butwhichfewpublicationshaveexamined--thattheartsofthepastcenturyoweIrelandsomeoftheirgreatestworks.