John Byrne (Irish artist)
Encyclopedia
John Byrne is an artist
born in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, now living in Dublin. He went to art college in Belfast, then to the Slade School of Art in London
in the mid-1980s. There he began to practice as a performance artist, gallery as well as theatre based, addressing identity and issues around the conflict in Northern Ireland.
After moving to Dublin in 1996, he performed A Border Worrier as part of the 1997 Theatre Festival. In 2000 he produced Border Interpretative Centre, a visitor centre and souvenir shop on the border which attracted media attention on its opening. It was a neon decorated simple breezeblock structure located on the border, on the main Belfast-Dublin road. Although it was forced to close after less than a week, it was documented in a series of Gallery shows in Dublin (The Border Itself, Temple Bar Gallery
, 2001), in Belfast (Ormeau Baths Gallery
, 2001) and in Berlin (Gallerie Agregat, 2002).
In 2003 Byrne produced a 12 minute video, Would you die for Ireland?, recording his tour around Ireland
asking people on the street whether they were prepared to make ‘the ultimate sacrifice’. Most participants were members of the public, but also included the Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
and members of the Orange Order
. The piece was made in response to a commissioned group show (Dearcadh) for Kilmainham Gaol
, Dublin, marking the bi-centenary of Robert Emmet
's rebellion and execution in 1803. The work examines ideas around patriotism and nationalism.
In 2004 Byrne produced a large public artwork Dublin's Last Supper which was commissioned by building developer Mick Wallace (M&J Wallace Ltd) for the courtyard of a new development at Blooms Lane, Lower Ormond Quay in central Dublin. It was a nine metre by two metre photo work on steel panels (screen-printed onto vitreous enamel) featuring 13 people encountered on the streets of Dublin in the form of an interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci
's masterpiece. The work was meant to be reflective of a changing society and the growing cultural mix in Dublin.
2005 projects included:
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, now living in Dublin. He went to art college in Belfast, then to the Slade School of Art in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in the mid-1980s. There he began to practice as a performance artist, gallery as well as theatre based, addressing identity and issues around the conflict in Northern Ireland.
After moving to Dublin in 1996, he performed A Border Worrier as part of the 1997 Theatre Festival. In 2000 he produced Border Interpretative Centre, a visitor centre and souvenir shop on the border which attracted media attention on its opening. It was a neon decorated simple breezeblock structure located on the border, on the main Belfast-Dublin road. Although it was forced to close after less than a week, it was documented in a series of Gallery shows in Dublin (The Border Itself, Temple Bar Gallery
Temple Bar Gallery and Studio
Temple Bar Gallery + Studios is located in the centre of Temple Bar, which is Dublin's designated cultural quarter. With a key profile and on street presence, the current building is a mid-nineties structure designed by Irish architects McCullough/Mulvin. The building contains one of Ireland's...
, 2001), in Belfast (Ormeau Baths Gallery
Ormeau Baths Gallery
The Ormeau Baths Gallery in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is one of Ireland's premier contemporary art spaces. It curated exhibitions by prominent international artists including; Yoko Ono, Gilbert & George, Victor Sloan, Bill Viola, Hans Peter Kuhn, Stan Douglas, David Byrne, Willie Doherty and...
, 2001) and in Berlin (Gallerie Agregat, 2002).
In 2003 Byrne produced a 12 minute video, Would you die for Ireland?, recording his tour around Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
asking people on the street whether they were prepared to make ‘the ultimate sacrifice’. Most participants were members of the public, but also included the Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
and members of the Orange Order
Orange Institution
The Orange Institution is a Protestant fraternal organisation based mainly in Northern Ireland and Scotland, though it has lodges throughout the Commonwealth and United States. The Institution was founded in 1796 near the village of Loughgall in County Armagh, Ireland...
. The piece was made in response to a commissioned group show (Dearcadh) for Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol
Kilmainham Gaol is a former prison, located in Kilmainham in Dublin, which is now a museum. It has been run since the mid-1980s by the Office of Public Works , an Irish Government agency...
, Dublin, marking the bi-centenary of Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet
Robert Emmet was an Irish nationalist and Republican, orator and rebel leader born in Dublin, Ireland...
's rebellion and execution in 1803. The work examines ideas around patriotism and nationalism.
In 2004 Byrne produced a large public artwork Dublin's Last Supper which was commissioned by building developer Mick Wallace (M&J Wallace Ltd) for the courtyard of a new development at Blooms Lane, Lower Ormond Quay in central Dublin. It was a nine metre by two metre photo work on steel panels (screen-printed onto vitreous enamel) featuring 13 people encountered on the streets of Dublin in the form of an interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
's masterpiece. The work was meant to be reflective of a changing society and the growing cultural mix in Dublin.
2005 projects included:
- February - Group show with Victor SloanVictor SloanVictor Sloan MBE is an Irish photographer and artist.Victor Sloan studied at the Royal School, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone and Belfast and Leeds Colleges of Art, England. He lives and works in Portadown, County Armagh in Northern Ireland...
and Mickey Donnelly, at raum5 gallery, BerlinBerlinBerlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, including Would you die for Ireland? - June - Video Believers premiered at the Crawford Municipal Art GalleryCrawford Municipal Art GalleryThe Crawford Municipal Art Gallery is a public art gallery in the city of Cork, Ireland.Since 1979 the Gallery has been located in the centre of Cork in what used to be the Cork Customs House, built in 1724...
, Cork. In this work Byrne is the central protagonist, confessing his art beliefs to a classical female nude who in turn responds, thus playing on the traditional notion of an artist and his muse. - June - Solo show at the Fenton Gallery, Cork
- Cork City Council residency - 'The Criteria Residency'