Éire le Díol - Ireland for Sale
Éire le Díol
Liam de Frinse
Is é an ‘World for Sale’, an ionsamhail atá tógtha in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, mar fhorbairt do thionscal na turasóireachta, a spreag an teideal don saothar is déanaí seo ón ealaíontóir Liam de Frinse as Béal Feirste. Tá sé ag díriú méire ar an dearcadh atá ag tomhaltóirí sa lá atá inniu ann, sé sin gur féidir gach uile rud a dhíol. I ngach ceann de na tríocha is a dó píosa, atá mar íomhá do na tríocha dó contae, tá mórán tagairtí samhaltacha. In áit na dtionscal traidisiúnta lása agus línéadaigh, tá cuibhreannais mhóra ilnáisiúnta anois. Tá sé ar chumas na gcomhlachtaí ilnáisiúnta céanna seo ár gcuid acmhainní náisiúnta a cheannacht agus a chreimeadh fosta. Is í an tseamróg - bláth a fhásann i ngach contae sa tír seo ach a n-amharctar uirthi mar lustain i dtíortha eile – a cheanglaíonn na píosaí aonaracha le chéile ina shaothar mór amháin. Ach mar sin féin, is é an rud a spreag an t-ealaíontóir a chéaduair ná an imní atá air siocair go bhfuil Éire í féin anois ionann le tráchtearra – do na comhlachtaí ilnáisiúnta, do na boird turasóireachta agus araile – agus cén luach atá ar an easportáil seo?
I dtaca leis an chultúr de, tá an t-ealaíontóir aireach ar íomhaí/táirgí cultúrtha agus cruthaitheacha – is féidir kitsch a dhíol ach ní féidir cruthaitheacht a cheannacht! Téann an pointe seo go croílár an ealaíontóra Liam de Frinse. Is De Frinse an ealaín, níl líne ar bith a scarann an t-ealaíontóir óna shaothar – is ealaín bheo bheathach bhríomhar é 24/7. Tugann an t-ealaíontóir cuireadh don lucht féachana na píosaí seo a bhogadh thart nó a atheagrú de réir mar is mian leo.
Parlaimint na bPréachán
Rinneadh A Parliament of Crows a léiriú den chéaduair i bhFoirgnimh na Parlaiminte, Stormont, ar an 22 Bealtaine, an lá céanna a ndearnadh athghairm ar an chomhthionól ó shuigh na baill go deireanach ar an 11 Deireadh Fómhair 2002. Gléasta mar ghadaí bóthair costarnochta agus masc ar a aghaidh, shiúil sé fríd na pasáistí i Stormont in éineacht le Carmel Hanna, ball comhthionóil ón SDLP, agus é ag iarraidh ar bhaill an chomhtionóil a theacht go dtí an gailearaí fada lena léiriúchán a fheiceáil. Bhí comhthionól Thuaisceart Éireann, nach raibh ach díreach i ndiaidh athchruinniú arís, trína chéile ag amharc ar a thaispeántas – cuid acu a ghlac le greann é, cuid eile a bhí míshásta. Bhí ballaí an Gailearaí Fada clúdaithe le heangacha agus crochta san eangach bhí 108 portráid dubh agus bán de na baill a bhí sa chéad chomhthionól taobh le taobh le 100 préachán – teachtairí samhaltacha. Deis iontach annamh, ar ndóigh, chun an 108 ball den chomhthionól a fheiceáil in aon seomra ag an am céanna! Rinne Gadaí Bóthair na mBrionglóidí a achainí chultúrtha iar-chogaidh ar iomlán na mball sa chomhthionól úr mar a leanas: – “let ye not forget……..the stuff of dreams”………..
Ireland for Sale
Liam de Frinse
The title for this latest work by Belfast artist, Liam de Frinse, was prompted by the simulated ‘World for Sale’ construction in Abu Dabi, Dubai as a holiday development. It points to the consumeristic perspective that – anything can be sold. Each of the thirty two pieces that relate to the thirty two counties contain numerous symbolic references. The lace and linen industries which are now gone have been replaced by multi-national consortiums. These same multi-national companies can also buy and erode our national resources. The shamrock, a weed in other countries and a wild flower that grows in all our counties, links the individual works to make a whole. The artist’s primary motivation however, is that he is dismayed that Ireland itself has become a commodity – to the multi-nationals, tourist boards and so on – and what is the price tag of this export?
Culturally, the artist is concerned by cultural and creative representations/products, kitsch can be sold but creativity can not be bought. This point gets to the very heart of artist Liam de Frinse. De Frinse is the art, there is no line that separates the artist from his work – he is walking, living, passionate art 24/7. The artist invites the viewer to re-arrange or re-configure these works as they wish.
Parliament of Crows
A Parliament of Crows was first performed in Parliament Buildings, Stormont on 22nd May, the same day the assembly was re-called since it last sat in October 11th 2002. Dressed as a bare footed masked highway man and accompanied by SDLP assembly member, Carmel Hanna, he strode around the corridors of Stormont inviting assembly members to come to the long gallery to witness his performance. The recently re-instated Northern Ireland assembly looked on bemused, humored and even irked. The walls of the Long Gallery were covered with netting that held 108 black and white painted portraits of the original assembly alongside 100 crows, symbolic messengers. A rare opportunity one might think to see all 108 assembly members in one room at the same time! The Highway Man of Dreams delivered his post war cultural plea to all members of the new assembly – “let ye not forget……..the stuff of dreams”………..