A visitor explores the darkened gallery by candlelight at Lismore Castle Arts.
GOETHE’S torchlit visit to the Vatican Museum in 1787 is the inspiration for an exhibition of 18 German artists in Ireland. Goethe became excited by the possibility of focusing on single art objects, visually removed from other objects. Herbei ein Licht!, an exhibition at St. Carthage Hall, Lismore, Co. Waterford offers visitors a similar experience. This group show of works relating to Goethe’s Faust by leading contemporary German artists is installed in a completely dark room. Visitors are provided with a single candle and invited to navigate the darkened space to find their own path through the exhibition.
Many of the artists are exhibiting in Ireland for the first time. Those taking part are Matti Isan Blind, John Bock, Matthias Dornfeld, Ingeborg Gabriel, Thomas Helbig, Gregor Hildebrandt, Andy Hope 1930, Alicja Kwade, Thomas Kiesewetter, Adrian Lohmüller, Cornelius Quabeck, Bernd Ribbeck, Gitte Schäfer, Cornelia Schmidt-Bleek, Markus Selg, Klaus Weber, Claudia Wieser and Thomas Zipp. Claudia Weiser’s large-scale wall work, and an intermittent soundtrack provided by Markus Selg, are site specific works.
The exhibition, organised by Lismore Castle Arts, runs from August 20 to October 2. It is open to one viewer at a time on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.