Docklands Authority commissions exciting three part visual arts project.
bodycity, a new visual arts project explores the complex idea surrounding the human body in relation to the cities in which we live. The project is in three parts, the first of which, VIDEOAPARTMENT, runs throughout the month of November and presents video works by artists from Ireland and around the world.
The second phase of the project, bodytalkcity, a day of talks and performances to raise questions about the cities we are building today and their impact on our lives, takes place on 17th November.
Bodycity continues into 2008 and will culminate in June and July with PROJECTbodycity, exhibiting new works by ten international artists as temporary interventions around the Docklands area.
Commissioned by the Dublin Docklands Development Authority, bodycity is curated by Nigel Rolfe, a prominent performance artist; Cliodhna Shaffrey, an independent curator; and Shelagh Morris as project administrator.
Starting on 1st November 2007, bodycity's VIDEOAPARTMENT features the works of video artists working with the moving image in four weekly programmes under the title ‘Body as City and City as Body'. VIDEOAPARTMENT will be open to the public each day through November (excluding Sundays and Mondays) from 12pm to 7pm at Apt 20, Block G, Hanover Wharf in Docklands.
Bodytalkcity takes place at St Michael's and John's Church, 15-19 Essex Street West, from 10am to 9pm on Saturday 17th November 2007. Speakers will include leading sociologist and philosopher, Zygmunt Bauman, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the Universities of Leeds and Warsaw, who has developed a powerful analysis of the human condition, as well as pre-eminent architectural critic and historian Anthony Vidler, the chair of New York's Cooper Union Architecture Department, and noted sociologist and economist Saskia Sassen who is a leading authority on globalisation. The Photographer Paul Seawright will discuss his recent work in Africa "Invisible Cities".
The day will also feature a panel discussion on the theme ‘crisis what crisis', chaired by Ciaran Benson, the Professor of Psychology at UCD, with a range of panellists including Fintan O'Toole and Peter Sheridan. The evening will conclude with a presentation by Australian performance artist Stelarc who incorporates themes of cyborginization and other human-machine interfaces in his work.
Admission is free and 250 tickets will be available through the bodycity.org website (www.bodycity.org).
Nigel Rolfe said, "we need now to look at the relationship between consuming development and ourselves. We live first in our bodies. In bodycity we have asked artists to do just that, it is such a fast changing landscape here in the city, and not all for the good, and that needs all our consideration."
Mary McCarthy, Arts Manager at the Docklands Authority said, "bodycity is one of the most thought provoking and intriguing projects the Docklands Authority has presented to date. The programme of events is sure to initiate much discussion and debate on life in contemporary Dublin."
bodycity is one of many initiatives emanating from the focus on commissions by the Docklands Authority's relating to the issue of urban regeneration in Dublin's Docklands.
Further information on the performances can be found at www.bodycity.org or www.dublindocklands.ie
For further information, please contact:
Loretta Lambkin, Docklands Authority, Tel. 818 3300
Christine Lydon, WHPR, Tel 669 0030 or 087 283 7407
Attached - Biogs on three curators
Nigel Rolfe is an artist and educator who first came to wide recognition here in ROSC in 1980 by using his body in his own sculptures. He exhibits all over the world and has had numerous major museum retrospectives of his work, he has been a professor At Yale University and the Royal College of Art In London.
Cliodhna Shaffrey is an independent curator in Ireland having studied at Goldsmiths' College at the University of London. She works for the contemporary art subject curating exhibitions and projects throughout Ireland.
Shelagh Morris has a background in public relations and has worked in visual arts administration for many years. She has worked as an arts manager behind the scenes, and more directly with art and artists by installing large group exhibitions in many museums and galleries.