The OPW is delighted to present A More Immortal Atlas, an exhibition of new work by Orla Whelan. This work explores the relationship between colour and form within the expanded conditions of contemporary painting. It is motivated by an existential anxiety, and by a belief that that abstraction, in all its historical complexity, is a viable means to address metaphysical uncertainties. While Whelan’s practice is rooted in painting, she often uses non-traditional painting materials to refer to the material and tropes of painting. The wooden wedges which have become part of her artistic vocabulary, are a usually unseen element of traditional painting. Using wood veneers on panel, she appropriates the traditional craft of marquetry to make contemporary paintings. The exhibition includes a large floor-based painting developed specifically for Rathfarnham Castle, as well as new large-scale paintings, a modified painting table, a series of small works and an experimental text.
The exhibition is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm with last admissions at 4.45pm. Due to Covid19 restrictions it is advisable to book your visit by calling 01 493 9462 or emailing rathfarnhamcastle@opw.ie. Admission to the exhibition is FREE.
To celebrate National Heritage Week, Smashing Times will screen two short films on the theme of Courageous Women Castle to Castle featuring chats, storytelling and performances with artists, historians and guest speakers, highlighting the incredible stories of women in history and their impact on our lives today. Smashing Times chose the unique settings of Rathfarnham Castle and Dublin Castle to remember and reflect on stories of courageous women from the past and today. The …screenings feature scenes from Constance and Her Friends by Mary Moynihan, inspired by women’s stories from 1916 to 1923, recently performed in Dublin Castle and The Woman is Present: Women’s Stories of WWII by Mary Moynihan, Fiona Thompson, Paul Kennedy and Féilim James, performed in Rathfarnham Castle. You can can access the films during Heritage week on https://www.facebook.com/smashingtimestheatreandfilmcompany/
