Context Background:
The third phase of South Dublin County Council's In Context, 2006 –2009, built on the underpinning principles and learnings gained from the previous two phases of commissioning and was further informed by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism’s General National Guidelines for delivery of Per Cent for Art Schemes, published in 2004. This project was commissioned under In Context 3, of which the principle component was to create time for the artists to engage with the context.
In 2007 Bik van der Pol noticed a half finished site. A nice green pitch, a half built concrete stand, with fences all around. Nothing seemed to happen there, even though it was located in the very heart of Tallaght, where new construction developments – hotels, shops, housing and office facilities – rapidly arose and surrounded this silent site. This site was Tallaght Stadium, a contemporary ruin where time seemed to have frozen. This site proved to be a major conflict zone, in which two sports clubs (soccer club Shamrock Rovers and the local Gaelic football club Thomas Davis), and South Dublin County Council were the main players. The construction of Tallaght Stadium began in October 2000, but had been delayed due to financial problems and legal disputes between the two sports clubs. Finally, after a long period of court cases, the first soccer game in the finished stadium took place in spring 2009.
The controversial history over the use of this stadium created a focus on a public space of shared interest: this site was, long before it was brought into use as a community stadium, firmly grounded in Tallaght. Bik Van Der Pol felt this history should not just be erased and forgotten.
Description:
Public Arena is a triptych using three distinct mediums, which explores, animates and celebrates the socio-political journey of Tallaght Stadium.
• A video film (33 min.), made in collaboration with students of Tallaght Community School, produced by Ali Curran. The script for this work was compiled from verbatim interviews with people from all sides of the negotiations of the Tallaght Stadium initiative. The video work is accompanied by a publication (designed by David Bennewith) including the script for the work.
• A neon public art work based on the Thomas Davis club motto: Nascann Dúshlán Daoine (Challenge Unites People)
• A live installation and photo shoot with enormous ball in Tallaght Stadium Ball
Event details: Tallaght Stadium 27 June, 2009
Introductory talk by Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol
Screening of Public Arena video
Live Installation and Photoshoot on the pitch at Tallaght Stadium
Artist Biography:
Bik Van der Pol (artists Liesbeth Bik and
Jos van der Pol) have been making work collectively since 1995. They
explore the potential of art to produce and transmit knowledge, and they
research methods of how to activate situations and to create platforms
for collective activities. Recent exhibitions include One Day Sculpture, Auckland, (2009); U-Turn,
Copenhagen; Marie Louise Hessel Museum/CCS Bard, NY; Van AbbeMuseum,
Eindhoven; ISP Whitney, New York; Kiscelli Museum, Budapest (2008);
Istanbul Biennale; European Kunsthalle, Cologne; Moscow Biennale (2007);
INSA Art Space, Seoul; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; MOCA, Taipei (2006);
Secession, Vienna; Cork Caucus (2005).
Mediation:
Visual Artists Newsletter, July-August 2008
Exhibition at RUA RED South Dublin Arts Centre, November 2008
Arts Week at the Big Picture, Tallaght: Preview of Public Arena and artist’s talk, 2009
Public Arena Poster: free unlimited edition available during project form RUA RED, Big Picture and South Dublin Libraries
Public Arena Publication, July 2009
Commissioner Type:
Local Authority
Commissioner:
South Dublin County Council SDCC
Programme:
In Context 3
PerCent for Art:
yes
Commissioning Process:
Open competition: two stage selection process
Funding:
Dept. of Environment Heritage and Local Government
Budget Range:
150,000 - 250,000
Exhibited:
Rua Red Arts Centre (25/11/2008 - 19/12/2008)
Tallaght Stadium (27/06/2009 - 27/06/2009)
Project Arts Centre (13/07/2009 - 01/08/2009)
Rua Red Arts Centre (29/06/2009 - 04/07/2009)
Exhibition Details:
Rua Red Arts Centre: Exhibition at RUA RED: An unlimited poster series were exhibited at the Alight exhibition November/December 2008.
Tallaght Stadium: Ball Event details: Tallaght Stadium 27 June, 2009
Introductory talk by Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol
Screening of Public Arena video
Live Installation and Photoshoot on the pitch at Tallaght Stadium
Project Arts Centre: The film Public Arena was continuously screened on a monitor from
13th July-1st August, 2009 Monday-Saturday 11am-8 pm
Rua Red Arts Centre: Public screenings of Public Arena video
Public Engagement:
A collaboration with students of Tallaght Community School to make a video film (33 min.), produced by Ali Curran.
Associated Professionals:
Project Manager: Rachel McAree, Sarah Searson, Ali Curran