People at Work

Temple Bar Gallery, Dublin

6 - 22 December 1988


Turf, The Birches, Portadown, silver gelatin print, toners and gouache, 58cms x 48cms, 1988 ©Victor Sloan


Each artist in this show has responded in his/her own individual way to the central theme which is the contribution of workers to the development of Irish society. It is clear that the artists recognised the difference between people working and people at work. The artists have looked in different ways, at the terms and conditions of people at work, concentrating on their individuality, their activity, their consciousness, their creativity, and their rewards, often finding different levels of rewards.

Some artists have responded positively and some negatively to the conditions under which people work. In some cases these conditions are located within the factory gates and in others the wider vista of society predominates.

The collaboration between the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the artists’ organisation, the Association of Artists in Ireland (members of the Irish Transport and General Workers, Union) marks the growing and important expression of the reality of working class culture in Ireland.

The present economic system offers only two choices – high art or manipulated mass media, commercial culture. The artists in this exhibition have forced a wedge between these two extremes and revealed what was always there. That is the living, breathing and productive life of the working class which produces its own images of culture, not hidden away in galleries or packaged for television, but allowed to find its own feet at the centre of working class life – the workspace.

Mounting this exhibition both inside and outside the mainstream of art galleries, in union halls, libraries, schools, trade union centres for the unemployed and during union conferences will make the artists’ work available to a wider audience.

Exhibiting artists are: Marie Barrett, Oisin Breathnach, John Carson, Pauline Cummins, Micky Donnelly, Rita Duffy, Gerry Gleason, Patricia Hurl, Michael Lyons, Brian Maguire, Danny McCarthy, Colin McGookin, Michael O’Dea, Alanna O’Kelly, Mick O’Kelly, Ger O’Leary, Geraldine O’Reilly, Jack Packenham and Victor Sloan

Temple Bar Gallery & Studios
5 - 9 Temple Bar
Dublin 2
Phone +353 (0)1 671 0073
Fax +353 (0)1 677 7527
Email info@templebargallery.com
Web: www.templebargallery.com

Gallery Opening Hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 11am - 6pm
Thursday: 11am - 7pm

Office Opening Hours:
Monday - Friday 10:00 - 6:00

Temple Bar Gallery & Studios is grant aided by An Chomhairle EalaĆ­on / The Arts Council











Return to News Archive