If you only do one thing this weekend: go Japanese
See: Kozo is the work of Richard Gorman, a Dublin-born artist who has spent long stints abroad in Milan and Japan, among other places. The latter has a major influence on this show. These are minimalist, delicate works, large elegant slices of colour that collide and complement with vibrant clarity. Gorman makes his own paper – a Japanese process known as washi – and mixes the dye directly into the pulp, which produces the resulting colours that seem to hum on the wall. Aidan Dunne describes the work as Gorman’s “characteristic grammar of just a few geometric motifs, typically circle, lozenge and triangle, arranged in interlocking patterns that have an almost mathematically quality, as though they are a personal species of Venn diagram”. The show is at the Kerlin Gallery in Dublin.
Listen: Two major pop acts will be ripping it up in Dublin this weekend. Factory Floor will be bringing their post-industrial dance tunes to Tripod this weekend in their first ever Irish show. Huzzah. Then on Monday, Whelans will be hosting the rather rude Azealia Banks, whose 212 track has seen her hailed as the next big thing. Whether this comes to pass remains to be seen, but given the swagger and attitude she has displayed in her videos and on record to date, this could be a very special show indeed. Assuming, of course, you can find a ticket. This one sold out in minutes.
Trad: For music of an entirely different canon, and of an astonishingly high calibre, look no further than Triur, currently touring to promote their new album, which is reviewed in tomorrow’s Ticket. The all-star trio are Peadar Ó Riada, Martin Hayes and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh and they play Cork School of Music tomorrow, Tulla Court House in Clare on Saturday and then head for Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance on Tuesday. Sure they could easily slip in a support slot with Azealia Banks on Monday. Now that would be worth seeing.
Cabaret: Nighthawks at the Cobalt is a consistently strong and eclectic offering in the classy surroundings of North Great George’s Street’s favourite cafe. This edition on Saturday night features standup comedy and performance poetry, with Q (aka Colm Quearney), Ben Reel and The Crayon Set sharing a stage. Click here for more information.
Theatre: This week saw the opening of I Heart Alice Heart I, which created a major splash when it landed in the Absolut Fringe festival in 2010. It tells the story of two Alices in their 60s, played with heartbreaking effect by Amy Conroy and Clare Barrett, who toy with the audience’s emotions while demolishing a few theatrical tropes and creating something altogether different – a very rare thing in theatre indeed. It’s at the Peacock Theatre until February 18th, and you can read Peter Crawley’s full review in tomorrow’s Irish Times.
