Different Things celebrated the diversity of contemporary art practices represented in the Collection of the Irish Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition focused on the double video projection work, Dark Mirror, 2004/05, by leading Mexican artist Carlos Amorales and included a film work, Dúscáthán-Dún an Rí: On the Lake of Shadows, made by local primary school children inspired by this work. Many of the artists featured in the exhibition, although very different in their practices, are linked through their use of drawing as an investigative tool, these include Irish artists Tom Molloy and Garrett Phelan and international artists Michael Craig-Martin, Franz Ackermann and Fred Tomaselli. The exhibition was the first collaboration between IMMA’s National Programme and Donegal’s Artlink.
List of works in the exhibition: Carlos Amorales, Dark Mirror, 2005, Two channel video projection on floating screen, André Pahl (animation) and José María Serralde (original score (piano performance), Ed. 2/5, Dimensions variable, 6 minutes 14 seconds, Collection Irish Museum of Modern Art, Purchase, 2005, © the artistTom Molloy, Oak, 1998-1999, Pencil on paper, 25 x 32 cm each of thirty two, Collection Irish Museum of Modern Art, Purchase, 1999,© the artist. Garrett Phelan, Now Here 24, 2006, Black marker on paper, 69 x 99 cm, Collection Irish Museum of Modern Art, Purchase, 2006, Image courtesy the artist and mother’s tankstation, © the artist
Carlos Amorales’s practice uses drawing as the basis from which to develop paintings, video animations and performances. In Dark Mirror, Amorales presents a double video projection featuring an animation by graphic designer André Pahl and an original score of piano music, performed by the composer and musician José María Serralde. The result is a nightmarish animation depicting man and beast in apocalyptic scenes, the imagery of which is rooted in contemporary popular symbols and Mexican icons. The film work inspired by this work, Dúscáthán-Dún an Rí, was made by local primary school pupils in workshops facilitated by visual artist Sara Greavu; contemporary dancer Carrie Logue, and storyteller Joe Brennan.
The exhibition was supported by the Arts Council, Donegal County Council and the Inishowen Gateway Hotel and was programmed in association with Earagail Arts Festival. Workshops with local primary schools were supported by the Department of Education and Science.
