Sculpture in Context 2022
‘Red Delta’ by Shane Holland on exhibition at Sculpture in Context, 2022.
This year I decided to submit a few of my pieces to Sculpture in Context for the first time. The Botanic Gardens is a place that I have many fond memories of, running around the grounds with my cousins, as my Uncle, the late Aidan Brady was a previous Director in the 70’s & 80’s. From climbing Monkey Puzzle trees to the strange palms and cacti occupants of the spectacular Victorian glass houses, it was always an exotic place if not a bit run down in the 80’s until the major refurbishments my uncle instigated but never lived to see. Sculpture in Context, which has ran now for thirty years, provides an excellent backdrop for sculpture of all types in the this peaceful oasis in the city.
During installations I saw just a few pieces but at last nights opening, I had my first overall look. I couldn’t help but be stopped in my tracks at the visitor centre entrance by the highly polished Ana Duncan’s ‘Duel’. Other pieces that caught my eye include; Des Cullen’s ‘Process Flow’ in limestone, Merce Canadell’s, striking cast glass with a bronze tear, ‘Drops of the Heart’ and Catherine Byrne’s, translucent ‘Bursting with New Life’ in caramel alabaster. In the upstairs gallery, I was struck by Dirk Hudson’s copper ‘Punch Drunk’ and the triad, open gold piece by Emmet Kane called Realta Óir. I was enthralled by the very refined work of Jane Murtagh ‘Letter to Tangiers’ and the outstanding, complex carvings of Michael Quane’s ‘Aqualung Buoyancy’. Ann McBride’s ‘Mycelium Network’, of ceramic bowls as always impresses with her excellent illustrations on ceramic. Jenny Mahony’s ‘Echo’ is a spectacular, complex carving, in Kilkenny Limestone as are the simple bird forms of Ed Miliano in bronze and the luxuriant, pursed lips of Helen Merrigan -Colfer ‘Temple VI Flutter’.
Back in the garden I was taken by Ayelet Lalor's ‘Skyscraper’ in livid blue greens with a rusted base.
From a personal point of view I was delighted to get two sculptures included, citing of our Red Delta, a set of four curved triangular forms in red steel, which is a kinetic piece with a turning base. Delta sits, nested into the Pampas grass area and our Infinity No.10 bronze spiral found it’s location down in the meadow, some distance form civilisation but perfectly backdropped with deep green foliage.
The garden provides so many different backdrops for many eclectic pieces, such is the space in the garden, that the many pieces can co-exist without infringing on each other visually. Seeing one piece leads to the viewpoint of another, bringing you on a natural inquisitive journey, whether it is a white goat (Katy Goodhue’s, ‘Four Legs Good’, in ferro-concrete) or a leaping frog (Petr Holecek,‘Quack Quack’). Swinging back past Turners wonderful curved glass houses you happen upon Edward Cook’s humorous 70’s giant ring pull, called Under Pressure, there is always something to see around the corner at the excellent Sculpture in Context show with over 200 exhibits.
