ARTIST AND Independent councillor Mannix Flynn has criticised the Dunamaise Arts Centre in Portlaoise for how it handled a proposed exhibition of his work.
Mr Flynn’s State Meant was one of the works due to be exhibited from today at the centre in Co Laois. However, he withdrew the show after the director of the centre, Louise Donlon, refused to allow the piece to be placed in the foyer of the building and insisted it be displayed on the first floor instead.
A statement from the arts centre said management had decided it needed to move State Meant from the foyer because it comprised “two large panels containing a statement made by a victim of physical and sexual abuse which contained the phrases ‘orally raped’ and ‘anal rape’ in giant type” and it could be clearly read “by any children who were entering the building”.
Mr Flynn expressed his dismay at the decision. “It’s an arts centre, not a coffee shop,” he said, arguing that the piece was “extremely appropriate” for adults and children.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Flynn said: “It’s pretty upsetting in this day and age that an arts centre would take a moral decision on behalf of the public . . . But this is Ireland – nothing can surprise us.”
However, Ms Donlon rejected the artist’s claims that he was being censored.
Praising Mr Flynn’s work, Ms Donlon said the exhibition “should be seen by as many people as possible, just as the Ryan report should be seen by as many people as possible”.
However, she had a “responsibility to protect children”. Ms Donlon said that she would “still be very happy” to exhibit the show on condition that State Meant was moved to a different area of the building.
While she was satisfied the material was fit for viewing on the first floor, she admitted that when previously discussing the matter with Mr Flynn, the arts centre “didn’t look into the context of what goes where”.