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10 October 2008

Scottish artist Roderick Buchanan will be exhibiting recent artwork at the Ormeau Baths Gallery which references sectarianism as manifested in history, culture and society.

21st November – 31^st January 2008,

Free Entry

Formal sports and informal games feature regularly in Buchanan's practice, examined as a means of assessing how our recreational activities – what we do with our free time – express and communicate identities. Buchanan's interest is not the competition per se but in the big issues of race, nationality, culture and identity, aspiration and allegiance which surrounds the fields of play.

The artworks are personal responses to these issues, locating themselves within Buchanan’s family history of ‘mixed marriage’; his love of football- placing him in direct  contact  with the rivalry between Celtic and Rangers; the dominance identity has played in his art practice – evident in his film I Am Here, which documents nationalist and loyalist band-practice sessions and his growing interest in the life of Thomas Muir, a political  activist after whom Buchanan’s secondary school was named. These personal starting points have enabled a body of work to be created that, whilst sitting in a contemporary art context, allows for engagement across social and religious boundaries.

Other Events on the Calendar are:

Artist Talk with Roderick Buchanan, 13^th December, 2pm, Free

An opportunity to hear Becks Prize Winner Roderick Buchanan give a guided tour of the ‘Histrionics’ exhibition.

‘Blind Faith’: Talk with William Crawley,25^th November,  7pm,  Free

Acclaimed BBC journalist and broadcaster, William Crawley will respond to the exhibition, and explore some of the core themes of Buchanan’s work. Among his broadcasting work, he has presented ’William Crawley Meets…’ which involved face-to-face interviews with leading thinkers and social reformers from across the world, including the scientist Richard Dawkins, the writer  and broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and the Bishop Gene Robinson. He is also the broadcaster for the prestigious ‘Blueprint’, natural history series as the centre-piece of the most ambitious multi-platform broadcasting project in the history of BBC Northern Ireland.

Motion Project Night: 4^th December 7pm, Free

Roderick Buchanan looks at the role of traditional music in forming cultural and social identity. Beyond Skin is a group who work to break down barriers of prejudice and promote understanding through music. The band are a group of musicians from all over the world living in Northern Ireland. They will be using this workshop to explore the uniting power of music and having fun. Whatever your musical ability, come along, meet people from all over the world and join in the jam!

Free Tours and art workshops for groups can also be arranged. For more information or to make a booking, please contact the Education Officer Ciara Hickey on 02890 321 402 or email education@ormeaubaths.co.uk.