Open Minds
19 October – 24 November
Open Minds @ The Hunt Museum gave people of the West of Ireland a chance to see an exhibition that started in Rua Red in Tallaght. It was curated by Brian Maguire, the well-known Irish artist who has worked with every prison in the country over a number of decades and has been a staunch advocate for art education in prisons. The Irish Prison Service chose him because of his understanding of the issues around incarceration, and the huge amount of work he has done with people in custody.
The artwork selected by Maguire for the exhibition is anonymous. Those who view it won’t know anything about the crimes perpetrated by the person who created it, which is part of the point. The art is put on public display as a kind of evidence that those who go behind bars have not disappeared from society completely. Open Minds wanted to challenge people to “see beyond the person who has been convicted.”
A person stands in a gallery, holding up a colourful abstract artwork. A table with more art and a speaker are visible in a minimalist room. The atmosphere is focused. A man stands in an art gallery, observing paintings on a white wall. The space is softly lit, creating a contemplative and quiet atmosphere. A person stands in a dimly lit art gallery, observing a wall of paintings and drawings. The atmosphere is contemplative and quiet. A man in a suit observes artwork in a gallery. The artworks include a grayscale portrait and a colourful depiction of a person on a light grey wall. The room is calm and contemplative. Two men stand in an art gallery. One points at a collage of colorful images, while the other observes. The atmosphere is contemplative and engaging. Two people sit in chairs in an art gallery, focusing on sketching artworks on the walls. The setting is calm, with several paintings displayed. Two people sit closely on chairs, viewing a large black-and-white artwork in a gallery. The scene is quiet and contemplative, with small colourful paintings on the wall nearby. A modern art gallery with abstract sculptures on the floor and colourful paintings on walls. Visitors sit in groups, engaged in discussion. Art gallery scene with a colourful, abstract sculpture in the foreground. Three people discuss art near a wall of small paintings, creating a reflective atmosphere. Two people stand facing each other in an art gallery with portraits on the wall. A white sculpture on a chair is between them. The mood is contemplative. A group of people sit in a circle in an art gallery, engaging in discussion. Artworks hang on white walls, creating a reflective and creative atmosphere.
