In his 1920 essay, ‘Beyond the Pleasure Principle’, Freud recounts the details of a game played by his infant grandson. Though close to his mother, the child rarely complained when left alone and instead played contentedly with his toys. One such toy was a spool tied with string, which he would throw out of sigh, uttering a drawn-out ‘o-o-o-o’ sound, which the family understood as ‘fort’, the German for gone. He would then quickly reel the spool back in, crying out ‘da!’ – there – as it came back into view. In this game Freud saw a disturbing compulsion that was linked to the early recognition of separate internal and external worlds.
The Douglas Hyde is delighted to present the first institutional exhibition in Ireland by renowned artist Uri Aran. Titled Take This Dog for Example, Aran’s exhibition presents new and ongoing works layered throughout the space of Gallery 1. Uri Aran has a decidedly unfixed relationship to media and materials, combining aspects of sculpture, video, painting, […]
Acknowledging the crucial role artists play in influencing and shaping other artistic practices, ‘The Artist’s Eye’ series asks those exhibiting in Gallery 1 to invite an artist of influence to present work in Gallery 2. In this instalment, Uri Aran has invited longtime friend and collaborator Josh Tonsfeldt. Josh Tonsfeldt’s practice is rooted in everyday life and […]
Artists present us with new perspectives on the world we live in. Explore the exciting ideas behind our programmes, hear more from the artists we work with and discover new ways of engaging with art.
