On the Town:Ireland's art world was all abuzz this week, celebrating the selection of artist Gerard Byrne to represent the country at the prestigious 52nd Venice Biennale. It is the world's biggest showcase for visual arts, and many of the movers and shakers in Irish art were in attendance at the Office of Public Works on St Stephen's Green on Tuesday to wish Byrne well.
The excitement about this rising star was palpable in the room, as the director of the Limerick City Gallery of Art, Mike Fitzpatrick, who commissioned Byrne for the biennale, testified.
"It's really exciting to work with an Irish artist who has such a reputation abroad," said Fitzpatrick, saying his hope was to capitalise on Byrne's increased international profile "and see how it trickles down to help other Irish artists".
Eugene Downes, the newly appointed director of Culture Ireland, said one of the most important elements of this year's biennale from an Irish perspective was the fact that it was the first time the artist representing the Republic would be located in the same pavilion as the artist representing Northern Ireland, Willie Doherty.
"The strong North-South link is great. It's a step forward and something I hope to build on," said Downes.
The Italian ambassador to Ireland, Dr Lucio Savoia, was also on hand to lend his support, along with Gráinne Humphreys, programme director of the Dublin International Film Festival, Madeline Boughton, arts manager with the British Council, Valerie Connor, visual arts specialist with the Arts Council, artist Shane Cullen, and Molly Sullivan of the Green and Red Gallery.
The man of the moment, Gerard Byrne, said he was grateful for the huge support evident at the launch.
"I feel in general that I've had really nice feedback from my peers, from people in the arts community here, about my participation, and that feels like a really nice endorsement," he said.
The 52nd Venice Biennale International Art Exhbition begins on June 10 and lasts until Nov. Details: www.labiennale.org/en/