SOAP questions the normative performativity of gender in contemporary media, ie. the compulsory reiteration and repetition of paradigmatic norms and conventions. The power of performance lies in its ability to transform people’s desires into conformity with the desires of the apparatus of society. Power is legitimised through normative performativity.
New York based Curator, Salah M Hassan together with his friend Muhammad Iftikhar Dadi – an American-based Pakistani artist who assisted him in adjudicating EV+A 2001 – selected 88 artists to exhibit as part of EV+A Expanded. Of the 500 works submitted to Open EV+A, Hassan noted that the majority were by artists of European descent living in Ireland or the rest of Europe. “This striking observation […] has prompted us to invite five artists of non-Western origins to participate in EV+A 2001, despite our realisation that this is not the invited EV+A which takes place every other year. It is also true that EV+A is primarily a contemporary Irish art event, but according to its rules, it has always been open to all artists around the globe” [taken from Salah M Hassan’s Introduction to the 2001 Catalogue].
Hassan decided, instead of giving away direct financial rewards, to use the award funds to find ways for the artists to participate in workshops and artists’ residencies overseas. Four winners were selected to participate in Triangle Network residencies and workshops abroad. Triangle Network is a global network of artists and visual arts organisations that support professional development and cultural exchange amongst artists, curators and other arts professionals throughout the world.
In an essay that placed EVA within an Irish art historical context, Medb Ruane commented that, “EV+A […] anticipated the rise and rise of the Curator as Artist – a practice now set in stone on the wider global stage” [taken from Mebd Ruane’s Notes on EV+A in the 2001 catalogue].
The 15th Young EV+A programme included contemporary artists, with past or present connections to EV+A, who met a dedicated group of young adults, chosen with the help of the art teachers, in various secondary schools in Limerick. This was followed by an exhibition at Belltable Arts Centre run concurrently with EV+A 2001.
Thanks
All the artists who submitted to EV+A 2001, All the artists selected, Artworking – J Haughton / M Lovett, Belltable Arts Centre – Liz Coulity, Breda Bourke, Aidan Brooks, Mark Carey, Carr Associates – S Carr / M Maher, Ger Clancy, Raymond Clancy, John Collins, Crawford College of Art & Design, Pat Daly,DC Electrical – John Deegan, Delivery Services – Seamus Slevin, Display Signs, Executive Travel, Fine Art Services – Tony Magenis, Fire Station Artists Studio – Tony Sheehan, Charles Foley, Galway Arts Centre, Gandon Editions – J O’Regan / N Dearey, Gerry Guerin, Tony Hickey, Bebhinn Joyce, Keystone Graphics – C McMahon / J Tarpey, John Liddane, Helma Lynam, Sean Lally, Lyric FM – Kevin Brew M-Signs, Ann Murphy, Clodagh Murray, Helen O’Donnell, Bill O’Loughlin, John and Trish Punch, Queenie Slattery, Rev Ger Slattery, Monica Spenser, Studioworks – Eamonn O’Mahony, An Chomhairle Ealaion / The Arts Council, Arthurs Quay Centre, Belltable Arts Centre, Brazen Head Sports Bar, Bridge Street Motors, Bus Eireann, Brooks Property Development, Careline Moving and Storage, Mark Carey, Clancy Electrical, Cruise’s House Hotel, DC Electrical, Doswell Print Gallery, Helena Modes, Hunt museum, John and Trish Punch, Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick City Library, Limerick City Gallery of Art, Limerick City Library, Limerick Civic Trust, Limerick Corporation, Limerick School Project, Limerick Tourist Office, Moriarty Carpet & Furniture, Murray O’Laoire Architects, Ormeau Baths Gallery, Phillips Ireland, Royal George Hotel, Medb Ruane, Shannon Development