AN exhibition of contemporary Irish art will open at the Eastlink Gallery on Saturday, July 19.

　　This exhibition originated in Hangzhou, where it was initiated by an Irish artist named James Ryan.

　　Ryan wrote to various galleries, art colleges and arts organizations all over Ireland to obtain an overview of almost every art practice in Ireland from amateur to famous professional artists. In the end, 75 different artists sent in their work.

　　Insgroupsto bring down the transportation cost, Ryan limited the size of the works to be sent to China and although some artists exceeded the size limit, most kept exactly within the size restrictions.

　　Some artists made large scale works but scaled them down for the show.

　　This exhibition includes all aspects of art practice in Ireland. There are six videos in the show. The videos include performance and animation.

　　There is also photography, including an Irish artist's photographs of his trip across Western China. There is also a lot of print-making in the exhibition, as well as pieces of sculpture made from wax, metal, wood and glass.

　　Among the artists is Sean Taylor who has been practicing art for almost 20 years. He collected all the records of rainfall from 250 recording stations in one year in Ireland and along with another artist, Michel Fernstrom, converted the result into music. The music is played by the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

　　Austin McQuinn's work is a video of an Irish dancer dancing with all the medals she ever won from competitions. McQuinn is himself a former Irish dancer and has exhibited his art in various parts of the world.

　　Des MacMahon is one of Ireland best print makers and has been practicing for over 10 years.

　　Eamonn O. Kane who exhibits animation pieces is one of Ireland's best known young artists.

　　Geoffrey Keating, the Irish Consul-General in Shanghai and who will open the exhibition said: "It is the largest collection of contemporary Irish art outside Ireland."

　　Ireland's visual arts are very strong but much less well known than its literature and theatre. Irish art is influenced by the European tradition but also by Irish history, politics religion, landscape, society, folk music and even the weather.

　　This exhibition offers an opportunity not only to view the art scene in Ireland but also to gain a glimpse of Ireland itself.

　　July 19-25

　　Eastlink Gallery