THOSE who still wish artists would paint nice pictures of trees and clouds might have a few problems with Joseph Kosuth, whose exhibition opened at the Irish Museum of Modem Art this week. Kosuth, known as the father of conceptual art, has painted a wing and a half of the museum black and covered it in script from Joyce and Wittgenstein. Kosuth has always been a huge admirer of Joyce, which is what drew him to Ireland with this current show.
The esteem in which Kosuth is held was demonstrated by the fact that the opening was attended by two of the most high powered art, dealers from the New York and Los Angeles arts world, Margot Leavin and Diego Cortez. The artist was accompanied by his wife, publisher Cornelia Laus. Terry Atkinson, one of Britain's leading conceptual artists, has long been a disciple of Kosuth and he made the trip from Leeds to Kilmainham while other working artists present included painter Patrick Scott. Ninety years young former Bord Failte director General Dr T. J. O'Driscoll and Dublin Theatre Festival director Tony O'Dalaigh joined an eclectic crowd for an edecticartist and for anyone who wished to find out just exactly what it was all about, art critic Caoimhin McGiolla Leith and IMMA director Declan McGonagle were patrolling the precincts.
have certainly pleased Oscar Wilde, whose childhood home in Merrion Square it was in aid of. The event was organised by Rita Hughes of Hughes & Hughes bookshops and Mary Monaghan of the American College now housed in Merrion Square.