Gallery 2
Millennium Court Arts Centre is proud to present ‘Shane Cullen, Durer and the Gallowglass, Antwerp, 1521’ a new body of work by International Irish artist Shane Cullen, a touring exhibition that explores the importance of public art in both an historical and contemporary context. The inspiration behind this project lies in a drawing by the great sixteenth century German artist Albrecht Durer that depicts a group of five standing figures – migrant mercenary soldiers from Ireland known as Gallowglass or Galloglaigh.
Inspired by his drawing, Shane Cullen has assembled this exhibition, which includes five small sculptures, five drawings and five prints. This exhibition uses the visual and symbolic impact of Durer’s Gallowglass drawing to stimulate debate and encourage discussion on the ideas of migration, displacement and dispersion of new cultures along with the important role of artwork in the public domain. Cullen sets out to engage with and to enter into a dialogue with the public through this artwork by examining relevant contemporary social, political and philosophical issues which flow from the artwork.
The show is part of the ‘Regenerate’ partnership arts project between Armagh, Banbridge, Cookstown, Craigavon and Dungannon & South Tyrone Councils and is funded through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Art of Regeneration programme.
Organised and curated by Millennium Court Arts Centre, the show toured to the five local Boroughs from May to November 2008. Accompanying labels for the show are in English, Ulster Scots and Polish. As the show continues on tour, more languages will be added, such as Portuguese, Lithuanian and East Timorese.
