El Lissitzky — The Artist and the State
El Lissitzky was one of the chief influences on the transformed visual culture that represented the emerging Soviet state — replacing the Romanov chinz that preceded it. Lissitzky was a disciple of Suprematism, a movement that rejected the imitation of natural shapes and focused on the creation of distinct, geometric forms. Typical was his 1919 propaganda poster Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge (above). But Lissitzky had ambitions beyond mere posters. He devised the notion of Prouns, an abbreviation of project for the affirmation of the new. These Prouns evolved from straightforward paintings and lithographs into three-dimensional installations that could serve as models for a new Russian architecture. None of the designs ever resulted in actual buildings, but Lissitzky became a big influence on the Bauhaus and future generations of graphic designers. Imma’s yoking of Lissitzky with Alice Milligan, a creator of tableaux vivants of romantic Ireland in the early 20th century, seems quixotic for many reasons, not least of which is the dearth of surviving material. John P O’Sullivan
Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, Tue-Fri 10.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-5.30pm, Sun noon-5.30pm, 01 612 9900
NORTHERN IRELAND
ARMAGH
■ The Thaw Factory Exhibition: Works by Rita Duffy.
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Market Place, Armagh City 028 3752 1820
BELFAST
■ A Botanical Reflection, Embroidered: Aisling Smyth exhibition.
Linen Hall, Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm, Sat 9.30am-4pm 028 9032 1707
■ Colin Davidson: Silent Testimony: Exhibition of Troubles-themed portraits.
Ulster Museum, today & Tue-Sat 10am-5pm 028 9044 0000
■ Julian Friers: A Shimmering Silence: Wildlife paintings from the Persian Gulf.
Naughton, today & Tue-Sat 11am-4pm 028 9097 3580
■ Paddy McCann: Black Quarter: New work.
Mac, today-Sat 10am-7pm 028 9023 5053
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DOWN
■ Gerda Fromel a Retrospective: Sculptures and drawings by late Czech artist.
FE McWilliam Gallery, Banbridge, Mon-Sat 10am-5pm 028 4062 3322
■ History Repeating: Works by Rebecca Killen and Aine McKenna.
Down Arts Centre, Mon-Sat 10am-4.30pm 028 4461 0747
TYRONE
■ In Your Town: Exhibition of Rory Gallagher memorabilia.
Burnavon, Cookstown 028 8676 9949
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
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CARLOW
■ AIB Eigse Open Submission: Selected artists’ works.
Visual, today 2pm-5pm, Tue-Sat 11am-5.30pm 059 917 2400
■ Glor Summer Open: Submission Exhibition
Including works by Amanda Patten and Dominic McNamara.Glor, Ennis, Mon-Sat 10am-4pm
065 684 3103
CORK
■ Ex Nihilo: New work by Anne Harkin-Petersen.
Triskel, Christchurch, Tue-Sat 11am-4pm 028 4062 3322
■ Head to Head: Including sculptures by Conor Fallo.
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Mon-Sat 10am-5pm 021 480 5042
■ Me Daza: Celebration of Cork’s architecture and landscape.
Twenty Twenty gallery, Tue-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 10am-5pm 021 439 1458
■ Tales from the Andes: Photo show.
Jennings Gallery, UCC, today 8.30am-5pm, Mon- Thu 8am-10pm 021 490 1571
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■ Unfolding B: Works by Tom Climent, Don Cronin and others.
Doswell, Rosscarbery, today-Sat 11am-6pm 023 884 8137
DONEGAL
■ Omar Yashruti – Duchas/Homeland: Photographs.
Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, Tue-Sat 11am-5pm 074 912 9186
DUBLIN
■ Approaching the Landscape: Including works by Margaret Corcoran and Conor Mary Foy.
Rua Red, Tallaght, Mon-Sat 10am-6pm 01 451 5860
■ David Claerbout: Video installations.
Project Arts Centre, Mon-Sat 11am-8pm 01 881 9613
■ Eamon Colman: New paintings.
Hillsboro Fine Art, Mon-Fri 10.30am-6pm 01 878 8242
■ Display Show: Including works by Celine Condorelli and Andrew Lacon.
Temple Bar Gallery, Tue-Sat 11am-6pm 01 671 0073
■ Stan Douglas: Mis en Scene: First major exhibition of Douglas’s work in Ireland.
Imma, today noon-5.30pm, Tue-Fri 11.30am-5.30pm, Sat 10am-5.30pm 01 612 9900
■ From the Archives: Items from the gallery’s archives.
National Gallery, today 11am-5.30pm, Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm 01 661 5133
■ Luigi Ghirri: Photographs.
Douglas Hyde, Mon-Fri 11am-6pm, Sat 11am-4.45pm 01 896 1116
■ Hugh Lane (1875-1915): Dublin’s Legacy and Loss: Exhibition marking centenary of gallery founder’s death.
Hugh Lane, today 11am-5pm, Tue-Thu 10am-6pm, Fri-Sat 10am-5pm 01 222 5550
■ The Photo Album of Ulster: Photographs from Ulster families.
Gallery of Photography, today 1pm-6pm, Tue-Sat 11am-6pm 01 671 4654
■ Sean Scully: Home: New paintings and pastels.
Kerlin, Mon-Fri 10am-5.45pm, Sat 11am-4.30pm 01 671 0073
■ Summer Ensemble: Works by gallery artists.
Graphic Studio Gallery, Tue-Fri 10am-5.30pm, Sat 11am-5pm 01 679 8021
KILKENNY
■ Song of the Sea: Interactive multi-media exhibition. Butler, today-Sat 10am-5.30pm 056 776 1106
LIMERICK
■ Vanessa Donoso Lopez: Eye before e, except after see: Works by Catalan-born artist.
Limerick City Gallery of Art, today noon-5.30pm, Mon-Fri 10am-5.30pm 061 310 633
MAYO
■ All Sorts and the Selection: Works by printmaker James McCreary.
Custom House Studios, Westport, today & Sat 1pm-4.30pm, Mon-Fri 10am-5pm
098 287 35
SLIGO
■ Of This Place – Contemporary Visual Reflections from Yeats Country: Including works by Nuala Clarke and Michael Wann.
Hamilton Gallery, Mon-Sat