VISUAL is delighted to host The Shrinking Universe by Eva Rothschild, the national representation of Ireland at the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia 2019, curated by Mary Cremin.

Through her diverse use of materials and sculptural formats, Eva Rothschild constructs a sculptural and immersive environment that allows the public to be both viewer and participant. Rothschild’s exhibition creates a socially sculptural space, allowing for contemplation of the material legacy of both present and past civilisations.

One of the leading sculptors of her generation, Eva Rothschild’s work demonstrates a great awareness of the modernist tradition while maintaining its own distinctive sculptural language. Her works also engage with objects from her the surrounding urban environment that she lives and works in, and the eternal forms of geometry and classicism. Her sense of materials, scale, monumentality, colour and line reflect a refined aesthetic sensibility that redeploys and subverts familiar sculptural formats.

For VISUAL this exhibition includes further works by the artist, Trophy (2014), which is on loan from the Collection of the Arts Council, and Gemini (2020) a new site responsive commission for the Link Gallery at VISUAL.

The Shrinking Universe by artist Eva Rothschild, the national representation of Ireland at the 58th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, will tour to IMMA, Dublin (12 June - 11 October 2020) ,Void, Derry (30 January – 27 March 2021).

Artist:

Eva Rothschild was born in Dublin in 1971 and lives and works in London. She has undertaken largescale commissions for Tate Britain’s Duveen Galleries (2009) and Public Art Fund, New York (2011). Her work has been the subject of solo exhibitions at The Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne (2018); The New Art Gallery, Walsall (2016-17); The Hugh Lane, Dublin (2014); Nasher Sculpture Centre, Dallas (2012); Kunstverein Hannover, Hanover (2011); South London Gallery, London (2007); and the Kunstalle Zürich, Zürich (2004). Rothschild’s 2011 solo Hot Touch was the inaugural exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield. In 2014 Rothschild was elected Royal Academician by the Royal Academy, London.

Curator:

Mary Cremin is the Director of Void Gallery, Derry. Prior to this, she was Programme Curator of Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Co-Artistic Director of The Treeline Project and Project Curator at the Irish Museum of Modern Art. Cremin has worked with artists including Derek Jarman, Douglas Gordon, Rosa Barba, Johan Grimonprez and Kader Attia Void commissioned the Turner Prize winning film The Long Note by Helen Cammock, other co-commissions include Ima Abasi Okon, Alex Cecchetti. She has produced large-scale exhibitions and commissions such as Eileen Gray, (2013), Richard Mosse, The Enclave, Irish Pavilion, Venice Biennale, (2013). Cremin has written for exhibition catalogues and artists books, and is a member of the International Association of Curators of Contemporary Art

The Irish presentation of Ireland at Venice is supported by the Arts Council as part of its commitment to promote the visual arts to Irish audiences. Ireland at Venice is an initiative of Culture Ireland in partnership with the Arts Council

Image Credit: Amphi, (2019) resin, spray paint, wood, 260 x 600 x 380 cm. Dimensions variable. Photo by Robert Glowacki.