Imaging Ulysses. An exhibition of 112 works by the distinguished British artist Richard Hamilton based on his pre-occupation over 50 years with James Joyce's Ulysses. Imaging Ulysses traces, in drawings, etchings and digital prints, Leopold Bloom's wandering through the 18 chapters of the novel, each image treated in a different manner reflecting the highly experimental nature of the book.
Imaging Ulysses at the Irish Museum of Modern Art
An exhibition of 112 works by the distinguished British artist Richard
Hamilton based on his pre-occupation over 50 years with James
Joyce's Ulysses opens to the public at the Irish Museum of
Modern Art on Thursday 13 June 2002. Imaging Ulysses traces, in
drawings, etchings and digital prints, Leopold Bloom's wandering
through the 18 chapters of the novel, each image treated in a different
manner reflecting the highly experimental nature of the book. The
exhibition assembles all the studies and prints produced since the
project began, and includes such key works as The heaventree of stars,
1998, from Ithaca and Finn MacCool, 1983, from the Cyclops episode.
The idea of illustrating Ulysses, which was published in 1922, the year
of Hamilton's birth, first occurred to Hamilton while doing his
National Service in 1947. Following that, as a student at the Slade, he
made numerous preliminary drawings and studies with the view to
producing etched illustrations to Joyce's text, but for
technical and practical reasons the project was put aside in 1950.
After a break of more than 30 years Hamilton resumed the illustrations
in a series of large-scale etchings during the 1980's. Some of
these are reworkings of the earlier studies, others are completely new
treatments. In the 1990's, with the computer as an increasingly
important tool in Hamilton's repertoire, the Iris digital print
joined the sequence of illustrations. Evolving technically and
intellectually over a lifetime, Hamilton's images represent an
odyssey through the themes and ideas of his own career as well as those
of Joyce.
Imaging Ulysses is organised by the British Council, London, in
association with the British Museum, London, and is curated by Stephen
Coppel, Assistant Keeper, Department of Prints and Drawings, the British
Museum. The exhibition was shown at the British Museum earlier this
year and has also toured to the International Biennial of Graphic Arts
in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Tübingen, Germany.
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A number of talks have been arranged to coincide with the exhibition:
In Conversation
Richard Hamilton and Stephen Coppel
Thursday 13 June 11.30am, East Wing Galleries. Booking essential.
Hamilton's Odyssey: Joyce's Ulysses
A gallery talk presented by Gerry Dukes, author, critic and lecturer
Sunday 16 June 3.00pm. Booking essential.
Introducing Art influenced by Joyce
Lecture presented by Dr Christa-Maria Lerm Hayes
Sunday 21 July 3.00pm, Johnston Suite. Booking essential.
The exhibition is supported by The Irish Times.
A fully-illustrated catalogue, with essays by Richard Hamilton and
Stephen Coppel, accompanies the exhibition (price euro 20.00).
Image: Richard Hamilton, Finn MacCool, 1983 - 43, Heliogravure, lift-ground and spit-bite aquatin
Admission is free.
Opening hours:
Tue - Sat 10.00am - 5.30pm
Sun, Bank Holidays 12 noon - 5.30pm
Mondays Closed
For further information please
contact Monica Cullinane at Tel : +353 1 612 9900, Fax : +353 1 612 9999
Irish Museum of Modern Art
Royal Hospital
Military Road
Kilmainham
Dublin 8
Ireland
Phone +353 1 612 9900
Fax +353 1 612 9999