Recent Finds
Sean Lynch | Recent Finds
September 25 to November 9 2008
Opening reception: September 24, 6pm
Artist’s Talk: October 22, 1.15pm
Sean Lynch’s artworks investigate a wide range of almost-forgotten historical subjects. Using his practice as a platform against the cultural amnesia that surrounds varied topics, Lynch’s research, photographs and installations disclose and build upon fragile stories and objects, magnifying traces of an often idiosyncratic existence.
‘Views of Dublin‘, a new artwork commissioned by the Gallery of Photography, is presented as part of the exhibition. In cut-out archival photographs and an accompanying publication, Lynch traces a series of events taking place during and after the making of the film, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, in Dublin in spring 1965. A replica of the Berlin Wall was constructed in Smithfield Market. Liz Taylor and Richard Burton stayed at the Gresham Hotel for ten weeks, attracting much attention around the city. Afterwards, the materials of the wall were recycled to form part of Saint Christopher’s School, the first Travellers’ school in Ireland. Situated in Cherry Orchard, the school was organized and run independently of the Department of Education by civil rights activist Grattan Puxon.
Provoking an active remembering that reinterprets the role of history, Lynch’s speculative energy circulates in several more artworks. A collection of photographs and artifacts consider the remains and rumours surrounding Richard Long’s artworks in the Irish landscape; Joseph Beuys’ Irish visit of 1974; the last street Walter Benjamin saw; and a vandalized statue of Bill Clinton.
About the artist: Sean Lynch was born in Kerry in 1978. He studied history at the University of Limerick and fine art at the Stadelschule in Frankfurt, and is currently an artist-in-residence at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. He has completed solo exhibitions at Heaven’s Full, London (2008), Galway Arts Centre (2007), Limerick City Gallery of Art (2007), and has featured in recent group exhibitions at the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork and Office Baroque, Antwerp.
Sean Lynch was awarded the Gallery of Photography Artist Award for 2008. An article previewing the exhibition written by Isobel Harbison, appears in the autumn edition of the Irish Arts Review, media partner for the Award.
RECENT FINDS by Sean Lynch
Walter Benjamin was found dead in Room 4 of the Hotel de Francia in Port Bou, on September 26, 1940. Benjamin passed over the French-Spanish Border, as he attempted to flee Europe to the United States via Lisbon. Following complicated visa problems, Benjamin was placed under guard at the hotel, and was to be deported the following morning. His death was considered suicide. However, recent speculation suggests Benjamin was pursued and killed by Soviet secret police operating in northern Spain during the early years of the war. Currently, local builders are in the process of redeveloping the site, as property prices continue to boom in the region.
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Sean Lynch
In his practice, Sean Lynch investigates and shines a spotlight on a range of almost-forgotten historical subjects. His research, photographs and installations advocate a kind of activism towards history, disclosing and building upon fragile stories and objects, magnifying traces of their often-idiosyncratic existence. Various subjects and events appear in his artworks, including Joseph Beuys, the Eurovision Song Contest, Celtic Revival architecture, Bill Clinton, and Richard Long. In recent months, Lynch has been searching for the mythical island of HyBrazil, last seen in the Atlantic Ocean in 1872.
Lynch studied fine art at the Stadelschule in Frankfurt and history at the University of Limerick. He has held solo exhibitions in recent times at Limerick City Gallery of Art,Heaven’s Full, London and Ritter & Staiff, Frankfurt, and group exhibitions at Oeen Group, Copenhagen; Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro, Milan; Office Baroque, Antwerp and the Lewis Glucksman Gallery, Cork. This year he will produce new artworks for the National Sculpture Factory in Cork and the Gallery of Photography in Dublin. His new exhibition Recent Finds includes new artworks which were facilitated by the Gallery of Photography Artist’s Award.
.For further information, press scans or to interview the artist, please contact:
Tanya Kiang, Gallery of Photography <SKYPETMPTAG0/>, tanya@galleryofphotography.ie