Last month, I shared a list of my favourite local interior design suppliers in the Dublin area – highlighting those that brighten my days not only with their products, but with their zest for the trade that we share. If you didn’t see the list, please take a look – you may discover a brand you haven’t had the pleasure of meeting yet (and it would be such a shame not to make their acquaintance.)
Continuing with my exploration of Dublin this month, I have been spending time soaking in the local culture. As in many of the creative industries, being a designer means seeing inspiration everywhere I turn. A beautiful building, such as Belvedere Chapel, or particularly colourful painting can ignite a passion for bold designs, for example, while a sculptural piece can lead to the most artistic of renovations.
If you have a spare moment or two in April, I thoroughly recommend taking some time out of your usual routine to simply experience all that Dublin has to offer by way of exhibitions. Below, I’ve compiled those that intrigue me the most…
Art & Great Hunger – The Coach House, Dublin Castle Gardens
“The death and dispersion of 2 million people, followed by a further 2 million emigrations to the end of the century, makes the exhibition an important gesture of cultural reconnection. The Irish diaspora defines Ireland’s place in the world today. The impact of the Famine is still with its descendants—both at home and abroad.”
Hi! Fashion – Farmleigh House, Phoenix Park
“An exciting exhibition, “Hi! Fashion” explores and celebrates fashion design from Ireland and Japan. Showcasing garments from ground-breaking fashion designers spanning six decades, the exhibition celebrates the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Japan.”
Emil Nolde/ Colour is life – National Gallery of Ireland
“The German Expressionist artist Emil Nolde was a prolific painter and printmaker. This exhibition, a collaboration between the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Ireland, will present a bold and colourful survey of his paintings, drawings, etchings, and woodcuts. Included will be scenes of Berlin café culture, calligraphic views of the River Elbe, brilliant studies made on travels to the South Seas, as well as portraits, flower paintings, and imaginative depictions of fantastical creatures in both oils and watercolours. This exhibition will be the first to showcase the work of this important artist in Ireland for over fifty years.”
Do you have a favourite gallery or exhibition space in Dublin? Please do tweet us if you do!