HARE IN O’CONNELL STREET – BARRY FLANAGAN
Image by infomatique
GIANT HARES TO TAKE OVER DUBLIN’S O’CONNELL STREET
The first steps to install Dublin City Gallery The Hugh’s Lane’s first-ever outdoor exhibition were taken over the weekend of 20th May 2006
Six giant bronze Hare sculptures, by one of the world’s most renowned sculptors, Barry Flanagan, were installed on O’Connell Street for one of the most exciting, eye-catching exhibitions ever seen in the Capital. Barry Flanagan on Dublin’s O’Connell Street will be a world-class exhibition featuring ten pieces – eight Hares, a playful elephant and a pair of cougars.
The complete exhibition, which is being installed as part of the celebration surrounding the reopening of the Gallery and the refurbishment of O’Connell Street, will be in situ by 27th June, when the last piece will be unveiled by the artist himself. The exhibition is being organised in collaboration with IMMA.
“This is a major coup not only for the Gallery but also for the city of Dublin,” said Barbara Dawson, Director of Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane. “This is Flanagan’s first exhibition in Ireland and it’s incredibly exciting to be able to bring art onto the street where it can be viewed in people’s very own environment”.
Beginning on O’Connell Bridge, the Hares will progress up the central median of O’Connell Street and along Parnell square to the Gallery’s forecourt. “Barry Flanagan’s monumental bronzes have been exhibited in other prestigious streetscapes such as Park Avenue in New York and the Champs Elysées in Paris and this unique and quite exceptional exhibition demonstrates Ireland’s ability to host world-class exhibitions in the heart of the capital city. Exhibitions of this quality and reputation ensure that Ireland remains a key player on the international stage and will attract, not only local and national interest, but world-wide visitors too,” said Ms Dawson.
NOTES RE ARTIST:
Barry Flanagan is one of the world’s foremost figurative sculptors and the ten chosen pieces will allow the general public the opportunity to engage with the exhibition as it threads down the central median of O’Connell Street and along Parnell Square to the Hugh Lane Gallery Forecourt.
The giant hares range in height from 3m to 9m (9ft – 23ft approx) and weigh several tons apiece.
Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, Barry Flanagan has lived in Dublin since 2000 and has become an Irish citizen. The six works installed over the weekend of 20th May 2006 are:
An Unlikely alliance (Cougar and Elephant) Outside McDonalds
The Thinker on Rock Opposite Easons
Acrobats Site of Anna Livia Central median
Hare and Bell Site of Anna Livia Central median
Nijinsky South of Father Matthew Statue Central Median
Drummer Nearly opposite old Aer Lingus offices, between trees on final median
For further information contact Rachel Sherry at Grayling on 087 6622111 or Dublin City Press Office on 086 8150010
