Artists
Eimear Walshe
Eimear Walshe is an artist, writer, and educator that uses academic study in Queer Theory and Feminist Epistemology in the production of sculpture, publishing, performances, and lectures. Walshe will be representing Ireland at the 60th Venice Biennale. The image above is from their groundbreaking video work 'The Land Question: Where the fuck am I supposed to have sex?' "It presents a brief history of land contestation in Ireland, and questions how the history of land relations persistently impacts our most intimate thoughts, aspirations, and interactions."(EVA International Website)
Land Day Protest at Shannon Airport
Walshe has continued their focus on Land politics through political action. On Land Day 2024 Walshe engaged in a protest described as follows by the Galway Advertiser : "Raising the Palestinian flag and a banner which said 'US military out of Shannon', GPSC members, Aine Ní Threinír and Aindriú de Buitléir and Longford artist, Eimear Walshe, attempted to approach two Boeing military aeroplanes following their arrival into Shannon from Istanbul, Turkey." The three protesters were arrested and released a couple of hours later.
NCAD Flag Pole
The NCAD Flag Pole
A flag pole donated to the student body by the artist Avril Corroon.
Streaming
Artists and Activism in Ireland
NCAD has a long lineage of artists engaging in political action and artworks which explore the potential between action and art. Here are a few examples from recent times to iconic moments from the past.
NCAD Students and Nelson's Head
On the 8th of March 1966, Nelson's Column (where the Spire is now) was blown up. The head of admiral Nelson was placed in storage by Dublin Corporation(now Dublin City Council) but it was soon stolen by a group of unidentified NCAD students.
The students used the head as a way of clearing student debt by renting the head out for display. One of the most famous appearances occuring during a concert by The Dubliners in the Gate Theatre. You can find an interview with the artists who took possession of the head below in the RTÉ archives. Nelson's head was returned to Dublin City Council where it is in the possession of Pearse Street Library.
RTÉ Interview: Who Has Nelson's Head?
NCAD Boat Protest at UCD
NCAD Students protest at UCD Lake
In 2006 NCAD students protested at UCD Lake in a hand made raft. The students were protesting against the proposal to move NCAD onto UCD campus.
Avril Corroon
Description of work from the artists website:
"Out the hole, around the tree and back in again. NCAD Graduate Exhibition 2014, installation view. Photo by Matthew Thompson.
100m of rope tied from an 18m flag pole on the grounds of the art school to the art student's exhibition space.
Upon entering the space was an accompanying HD video. Duration: 5min. The artist has since donated the flagpole to the student body of NCAD.
Room co-curated with Kerry Guinan, whose work is also featured."
The flag pole Corroon donated to NCAD students now stands in red square!