Since the Arts Council collection was established in the early 1960s there has been a huge growth in the number of artists using the camera to create photographs and make moving image artworks. At this time when we are all looking at an abundance of images online, we wanted to highlight some key works in the collection. There are over 100 lens-based works in the collection, and we’ve selected 14 works that are maybe not as familiar to our audiences. Works in the exhibition were created between 1987 and 2013.

Here, Dragana Jurišić, whose work is showcased under the ‘Four Decades of the Lens’ theme, tells us more about the featured artwork and what it means to have her artwork as part of the Arts Council collection. Explore this and more from the Arts Council collection at instagram.com/artscouncilireland/  

The idea of the muse usually evokes images of a male artist and a passive female muse. The female muse is often depicted as nude in visual art. And in turn ‘the nude’ – one of the biggest clichés of Western art tradition, is a genre predominantly inhabited by male artists. At the beginning of April 2015, I began the task of photographing 100 female nudes in order to explore what happens when a female artist looks at female body. What are the characteristics of the female gaze? What happens once 100 women respond to the open call of being photographed nude? 

Women in these photographs directed themselves. They also chose the image that would represent them.

‘100 Muses’ is composed out of 100 individual ‘polaroids’, which are one of a kind prints. I was delighted when the Arts Council Ireland decided to acquire this particular piece; not only because it’s a huge honour to have a work in the collection, but also knowing the artwork will be well looked after and that the future generations will have access to it. 

—Dragana Jurišić

Since 1962, the Arts Council has been buying art from working artists. The Collection that evolved tells the story of modern and contemporary Irish visual art in a unique and fascinating way. Today the Collection continues to grow and its more than 1,100 paintings, sculptures and other works are on display in public spaces all over Ireland for people to experience and enjoy first hand. You can find out more at: www.artscouncil.emuseum.com.