artful dublin Essay -- essays research papers

Some oneness has crafted a dense, human-size spider web in a 17th-century baroque chapel. At the center of the swarming thread, a doggedhaired woman lies in a hospital bed, sheet to her chin. Silence, light filtering from stained glass, and her stillness trapped in the maze reminds the viewer of some old dada wisdom -- either work of nontextual matter that can be completely understood is the product of a journalist.Down the hall, in a large room, a teenaged German is rushing around in a white jumpsuit. He alternately plays with toy airplanes and bakes cakes in a microwave, which every hour on the hour he blows up.These exhilarating works of art from Chiharu Shiotta and Frank Werner were at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin recently, part of a show called "Marking the Territory." The images were compelling enough, but the real strangeness was that they were happening in Dublin at all.For centuries, the visual arts in Ireland ran a distant second due to the superi ority of the Word. But no longer. "This is an specimen place for an artist to be," Paolo Canevari said. The young Roman was represented at IMMA by "Differences," seven people on a bench on whose foreheads he methodically rubber-stamped religious denominations. "The Irish bent jaded. Theres no boredom with art."Even Dublins sting humor, a style that is distinguished by an urchins allergy to the sentimental and a duty to bring everything down to street level, has softened toward the public art of the city. The statue of the River Liffey, personified as a woman in a fountain, is still cognize as "The Floozy in the Jacuzzi," and a realistic sculpture of cardinal middle-age women taking a rest from shopping will forever be "The Hags With the Bags." And what else could a giant metal spike proposed for the north side be called but "The Stiletto in the Ghetto?" These days, however, all street titles are said with centre and pride.Every n ation prizes creativity. But countries such as Ireland, which for so long had little but creativity, revere it. It is now museums, galleries and artistic work that are embraced, and not just the dramatics, pub wit and the writer.One of the engines of Dublins artistic sail through is IMMA, only 10 years old yet housed in one of the most magnificent 17th-century buildings in the world, the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. Formerl... ...ight to $1,725 for the penthouse suite. Full service, excellent eatery and a great bar for people watching. The Pembroke Townhouse (90 Pembroke Rd., telephone 011-353-1-660-0277,www.pembroketownhouse.ie) is a marvelous, innoxious Georgian house in Ballsbridge, close to everything on the south side, with a cheerful and efficient staff. Rates run from about $90 to $ cxx per night.WHERE TO EAT Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud (21 Upper Merrion St.) has spectacular art on viewing along with the best French cuisine in Dublin. Appetizers run from $14 to $30, entre es from $35. Trocadero (3 St. Andrews St.) -- "the Troc," near Temple Bar -- is a great old-time theater restaurant, with late suppers and superior bar food until midnight. Its recently been refurbished and crisped up, but they odd the sense of fun intact. Two can have a memorable Italian meal and a bottle of red for about $60. schooling For more information, contact the Irish Tourist Board, 800-223-6470, www.ireland.travel.ie or, in Dublin, the Bord Failte (Gaelic for "board of take"), Baggot Street Bridge, telephone 011-353-1-602-4000.-- Ambrose Clancy 2002 The Washington Post Company