Knot Bind Gesture Bend opens 4 August at the National Gallery of Ireland

Knot Bind Gesture Bend, an exhibition of new work by Irish artist and designer Richard Malone, opens today (4 August 2022) in the National Gallery of Ireland. The exhibition is free for the public to visit and runs until 4 September 2022.

This is Malone's contemporary response to the Gallery's summer show Giacometti: From Life, created during an onsite artist residency for June and July 2022. The residency is in partnership with Arthaus Hotel, a boutique art-inspired hotel in the heart of Dublin.

As part of the public programme for the summer exhibition Giacometti: From Life, the National Gallery of Ireland welcomed artist and fashion designer Richard Malone to take part in an onsite artist residency, exploring the work of the sculptor Alberto Giacometti, and related material in the library and archive. The resulting installation, displayed in the Gallery’s Millennium Wing Studio, presents artistic work centring ideas of queerness, class, place and otherness as Malone explores the limitations of language, gesture and symbolism in constructing meaning and identity. Mimetic forms created from techniques such as knotting, binding, weaving, building and mark-making, in materials such as silk, clay, foam, wire, paint and steel fill the space and the studio is transformed.

From Wexford and based in London, renowned designer Richard Malone’s residency at the National Gallery of Ireland began with a research period in consultation with Gallery curators, investigating Giacometti and exploring archives. For the months of June and July 2022, Malone worked on site in the Gallery’s Education Studio, directly opposite the exhibition space. 

About his artist residency at the Gallery, Richard Malone said: “It’s been exciting to develop this onsite artist residency, reacting and engaging with the studio practice of Giacometti. Over the past year of planning, I have had many rewarding conversations with the Gallery’s education and curatorial teams, discovering exciting crossovers and synchronicities between our studio work, especially in relation to the body and form. This dedicated period of time has accommodated experimental and bold conversations, renegotiating the expected uses of studio space.”

Malone seeks to explore human truths and performed falsities in his practice. Through garment making, drawing, writing, textiles, weaving and performance, Malone often crosses the borders of rigidly defined artistic outputs. His work as an artist and designer has won numerous accolades and is held in some of the world’s most important collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York, The Victoria and Albert Museum London and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

Sinéad Rice, Head of Education at the National Gallery of Ireland, added: “Artist residencies at the National Gallery of Ireland are designed to connect contemporary Irish arts practice and research with historical artists, exhibitions and collections. Since 2017, residencies have provided space, support and opportunity to respond, experiment and create. We are so thrilled to welcome acclaimed artist and designer Richard Malone to the Gallery this summer to respond to our wonderful exhibition Giacometti: From Life. We hope that Richard’s work will encourage our audiences to explore the exhibition and the Gallery in a new way.”

Arthaus Hotel is the Giacometti Artist Residency Accommodation Partner. A short stroll from the Gallery, the boutique hotel is the perfect space for visitors to extend an art-themed afternoon or weekend following a visit to Giacometti: From Life.

From 4 August 2022 to 4 September 2022, a full learning and engagement programme will support Knot Bind Gesture Bend, with invigilators onsite throughout. Visitors of all ages and abilities can learn about Malone’s practice, concepts and techniques in both practical and discursive sessions.

Giacometti: From Life runs at the National Gallery of Ireland until 4 September 2022. The exhibition displays more than 50 works by Alberto Giacometti including bronze and plaster sculptures, paintings, drawings, and prints. It is co-organised by the National Gallery of Ireland and the Fondation Giacometti. Tickets are from €5, with free entry on Mondays before 1pm.

For more information on Giacometti: From Life, the artist residency and a full list of programmed events, see www.nationalgallery.ie.

Notes for the Editor

Exhibition listing

Knot Bind Gesture Bend: Richard Malone Responding to Giacometti
4 August – 4 September 2022
Millennium Wing Studio, National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West & Clare Street, Dublin 2
Free admission

Gallery opening hours:

Monday: 11am – 5.30pm / Tuesday – Wednesday: 9.15am – 5.30pm / Thursday: 9.15am – 8.30pm / Friday – Saturday: 9.15am –5.30pm / Sunday: 11am – 5.30pm

Giacometti: From Life exhibition information:

Giacometti: From Life
Beit Wing, National Gallery of Ireland
Until 4 September 2022
Tickets from €5 (entry is free on Mondays, 11am-1pm)
Giacometti: From Life is co-organised by the National Gallery of Ireland and the Fondation Giacometti

About Richard Malone

Richard Malone is an Irish artist and designer from Wexford, Ireland. Malone’s artistic practice seeks to explore human truths and performed falsities, experimenting with exaggerated forms and sculptural works that seek to be animated or engaged with. Malone’s practice includes garment making, drawing, writing, textiles, weaving and performance, often crossing the borders of rigidly defined artistic outputs. Malone is interested in the overlaps of contemporary society with the ancient - ritualistic practices that are informed by a collective consciousness. Malone’s work often explores the idea of the ‘ether’, a transient place of creativity or reaction that cannot be defined. More recently Malone's work has explored the limitations and possibilities of language and symbolism, as well as the idea of multiple truths existing within one object or identity - including gender, sexuality, motion, sound and personal or collective histories. Malone's work as a fashion and textile designer has won numerous accolades including The International Woolmark Prize, British Fashion Council Fashion Trust and NEWGEN awards, and been twice nominated for the LVMH Prize. Malone’s work is held in some of the world’s most important collections, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York, The Victoria and Albert Museum London and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

About the National Gallery of Ireland

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. www.nationalgallery.ie

About Arthaus Hotel

Honouring the spirit of the world famous Bauhaus school of art and design which aimed at uniting Art and People, the Arthaus Hotel exhibits a rich tapestry of art and design woven throughout by a series of artists, craftsmen and skilled workers in a contemporary setting. An art trail is integrated throughout the property to delight the guest and stimulate thought about our context in the world at large. In the words of one of the most famous Bauhaus teachers, Paul Klee, “Art does not reproduce what we see. It makes us see.'' Arthaus Hotel hopes it makes you see the world in a different way as well. The hotel has been designed to be a stylish sanctuary with substance and a cheeky twist. On a monochrome backdrop, layers of intense colours, geometric design elements and delicate naturalistic pieces create together an unapologetically plush and opulent space for guests to enjoy. www.arthausdublin.ie