0044 — Irish Artists in Britain

ed. Peter Murray

ISBN 978 0946846 245    176 pages (hardback)   27x23.5cm   140 illus

0044 – entitled after the dialling code between Ireland and Britain – features the work of 20 Irish artists working in Britain. The 0044 exhibition opened the new galleries at the Crawford Municipal Art Gallery, before travelling to PS1 Contemporary Art Center, New York, and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY. This large-format, sumptuously illustrated book features specially commissioned essays on or interviews with each of the artists by authoritative contemporary art writers from Ireland, Britain and America. Included are artists who work in such diverse media as painting, sculpture, video, photography, installation and performance. The extensive introductory essay explores the themes of identity and transnationality, noting that despite the vast array of differences between the 20 artists, they are united in their approach to working as artists, “united by assurance, candour and a refusal to be stereotyped”, rather than by any national or ethnic concerns.

"This is excellent ... The insights from the artists, the essays, interviews and illustrations all mingle into a glorious book ... The link between the artists, that they are Irish living in Britain, is an interesting thread, but it is the high standard of work – wise, beautifully executed, stretching the boundaries of imagination by surprisingly sharp devices and refusing to be categorised – which thrilled me."               

— Jane Humphries, Books Ireland

"Once again, Gandon Editions’ high standard of production is in evidence both in the layout of the book and the splendid manner in which it is illustrated ... both handsome and visually satisfying. The first impression is enhanced by the image on the front ... a figure encased in an eat-your-heart-out-Dame-Barbara-Cartland-shocking-pink dress..."           

 — John McBratney, Irish Arts Review Yearbook

"The exhibition catalogue, produced by Gandon Editions, is a model of its kind, generously illustrated and featuring authoritative but accessible interviews with each featured artist. The voices of the artist talking about their work are easily understandable, while the interviewers display a welcome absence of unintelligible art-speak jargon."          

  — Alannah Hopkin, Irish Examiner