EVA International is Ireland’s Biennial of Contemporary Art. EVA leads in the commissioning and curating of contemporary art by Irish and international artists, culminating in a programme of artistic encounters, exhibitions, and education projects, that takes place every two years across venues in Limerick city and beyond. EVA’s vision is ‘To lead in creating experiences and encounters of world-class contemporary art that activate Limerick as a place of creative endeavour and cultural destination’.
This time, for this first time in its 43-year history, the exhibition will extend across two years, taking place in various venues throughout Limerick city in 2020-21. Phase 3 opening on 24 September 2021 and continuing until 14 November 2021, will feature 19 presentations from Irish and international artists and curators.
British Council is delighted to support the UK programme at the 39th EVA International and below we'd particularly like to highlight some of the UK artists involved in Phase 3 of the festival. They include:
Guest Programme: 'Little Did They Know'
Curated by Merve Elveren the final phase of the 39th EVA International’s Guest Programme, Little did they know, features two research presentations and eleven artist projects, which will extend across venues Park Point, Limerick City Gallery of Art, Sailor’s Home and via a dedicated online platform.
Across venues in the Little did they know programme, multiple artists including the UK's Melanie Jackson and Esther Leslie present artworks that address issues such as visibility, representation, and reclamation in the context of contested landscapes across the world.
One particular highlight, We realised the power of it, is an installation of archive material from the Derry Film and Video Workshop – a women-led film production company, formed in Derry in the early 80s. A research presentation led by Sara Greavu in collaboration with artist Ciara Phillips, it includes previously unseen footage, photographs and documents that trace a history of the workshop, exploring concerns with gender, class, the Irish 'national question' and the legacies of imperialism.
Little did they know opens at Park Point and Limerick City Gallery of Art venues from 24 September - 14 November, and Sailor’s Home from 1 October - 14 November.
Platform Commission - Emily McFarland
Newly commissioned work by Emily McFarland will be presented across the exhibition programme, developed as part of EVA Internationals's Platform Commissions initiative. Black Bog (2021) and Shallow and deep (2021) are the final two-part video installation in Emily McFarland’s “Dtan-a-goo-saran-dthu (The Wind’s Changed)” series that explores the changing ecology of a particular landscape in the Sperrin Mountains of West Tyrone.
Platform Commissions will open at Park Point, 24 September - 14 November and Sailor’s Home, 1 October - 14 November.
Other Initiatives - The Inextinguishable and It's Not For You We Did It
Melanie Jackson and Esther Leslie’s collaborative publication, The Inextinguishable, is an ongoing exploration of milk, long associated with Golden Vein. Milk is a primal fluid, identified with care – yet it’s sensational qualities are captured by science in bio-political skeins of big data analysis in Ireland and internationally to make it one of the most technologized fluids on the planet. Please email info@eva.ie with subject line ‘Subscribe to The Inextinguishable’ to request a free copy including full name and postal address.
It’s not for you we did it - a limited edition print folio of posters by Ciara Phillips (edition of 100 priced at €125 + postage and packing). The edition follows the online project, It’s not for you we did it, developed by Sara Greavu and Ciara Phillips for Phase 1 of the 39th EVA International. Please email info@eva.ie for further information and orders. All proceeds of sale will support the work of Derry Print Workshop and the prints are currently on display at EVA’s Park Point venue.
