Paul Hallahan | The song of a bird that has come to love its cage | 2019 | Acrylic ink and paint on canvas | 230 × 160 cm.

For Culture night 2022 the Arts Council will maintain its proud tradition of showcasing a selection of works recently added to its extensive Visual Art Collection.

This year we are delighted to once again welcome audiences to share these works in person at the Arts Council’s buildings in Dublin as part of Culture night.

Works by many of Irelands most distinguished and celebrated artists will be shown on the night including recently acquired pieces by: Helen Blake, Vivienne Dick, Eleanor Duffin, Paul Hallahan, Andreas Kindler Von Knobloch, Vera Klute, Colm Mac Athlaoich, Leanne McDonagh, Rajinder Singh, Kathy Tynan, Suzanne Walsh and Marcel Vidal.

The works on show from the Collection showcase the Arts Councils ongoing commitment to purchasing excellent and ambitious works of art which reflect the amazing standard of contemporary Irish visual arts practice and which both engage with and represent Ireland today.

In addition to the artworks on display in Merrion Square on the night the Arts Council Collection can also be seen throughout the country as part of ongoing exhibitions and long term display in public buildings such as hospitals, universities and schools.

For those who won’t be able to visit in person on the night we are sharing some insight on each of the artist and artworks which will be on display:

‘Paul Hallahan's artwork is primarily based in painting and sculpture, taking formalistic ideas from the past and assigning them into today's world, to ask what art can do. His interests are varied but commonly look at how we as humans engage and interact with nature beyond ourselves, both individually and societally. He uses pattern, repetition, and chance to look at themes that explore perception and interaction with the environment on a micro and macro scale.

First exhibited in early 2019, this painting looks to an undisclosed landscape under moonlight as a source. The work is an attempt to look at ideas and concepts of sincerity rather than irony through landscape painting. The work is titled from a quote by the American author David Foster Wallace in an interview from 2003 about irony’s position in our modern world.’

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 almost 1,300 paintings, sculptures and other works are on display in public spaces all over Ireland for people to experience and enjoy first hand.

Explore the Collection and more on our website here.