TheCity

Tag: Culture

  • Merrion’s open-air artists persevere through Level 3

    Merrion’s open-air artists persevere through Level 3

    With Level 3 restrictions ordering galleries to close, Eibhin Kavanagh talks to the artists still able to display their work at the Merrion Square Open-Air Art Gallery.

    Artists display their work at Merrion Square every Sunday from 10am until 5pm. Photo by Eibhin Kavanagh

    With the introduction of Level 3 restrictions in Dublin last month, art galleries and other cultural institutions have been forced to close.

    Despite this, the Merrion Square Open-Air Art Gallery has weathered Level 3 restrictions, and every Sunday artists gather in this Georgian garden square to sell their work and bring colour to Dublin City Centre.

    Brendan Higgins has been displaying his art at Merrion Square for over ten years.  He talked to The City about the changes experienced since artists started exhibiting again in the Summer.

    Brendan Higgins at Merrion Square with his artwork. Photo by Eibhin Kavanagh

    “There was a huge drop in footfall,” he said. “It is a business area Monday-Friday and on the weekends, there were a lot of tourists.” he continued: “But business hasn’t been too bad, because people are coming in just to buy paintings.” 

    In regard to the level 3 restrictions, Brendan said: “We’re one of the only open-air events, when the galleries were open as well, they were also attracting people, so the last three weeks with the galleries closed we did notice a drop in footfall.”

    Kevin Sharkey, who has been exhibiting for around five years now, said: “An open-air art market is perfectly suited to deal with the coronavirus because it’s not close contact. I find most people are very relaxed about it when they’re outside and they have space.”

    “The main thing I noticed was that people who before would’ve done things like go to the cinema or go for a meal or whatever, are instead looking for outdoor activities. Merrion Square suits this perfectly.”

    “For the last lockdown, most people were doing two things. They were staying home, and they were decorating. You can only paint so many rooms in your house but at some stage when you want to finish off your design you think, ‘ah we need a nice painting.’ In Ireland, there’s very few places where you can see such a wide breadth of different artistic talents in one sitting, and that is something people who are looking for art want; choice,” Kevin said.

    Artist Kevin Sharkey with his work. Taken by Eibhin Kavanagh

    Peadar Sheerin, who has been displaying his work at Merrion Square for nine years now, said: “Since this is an open-air exhibition it is reasonably safe Covid-wise.”

    Peadar also reflected on how the exhibition used to be: “I miss the American tourists, they were great customers. ‘I like those three honey. Wrap em up’. Also the Germans, French, Japanese, Chinese, and good ole UK, to mention a few.”

    Councillor Cat O’Driscoll, chair of the City Council Arts, Culture, Recreation and Leisure Strategic Policy Committee commented on the importance of the open-air gallery with restrictions limiting arts and culture in Dublin City.  

    “I’ve been inspired by how innovative so many have been to bring arts and culture to everyone safely,” Cat O’Driscoll said.

    “The Merrion Square Open-Air Art Gallery is an institution and it is wonderful to have it while so many other spaces are closed.”

    “It’s important we still get out and about in a safe way to keep well physically and mentally. Weather permitting, a social distanced stroll around the Merrion Square Gallery on a Sunday with a take away hot beverage is highly recommended.”

    She also noted: “Don’t forget your mask.”

    “With Merrion Square, you’re dealing with the artist directly. If I was going out to get a painting, I’d go to Merrion Square before I’d go to a gallery,” Brendan Higgins said.

    “In Ireland there are very few things that you can bring your whole family to that doesn’t cost you anything,” Kevin Sharkey said.

    The Merrion Square Open-Air Art Gallery takes place every Sunday from 10am until 5pm.

    In December the artists will be exhibiting daily.

  • World Book Night 2020 — rediscover the power of words during lockdown

    World Book Night 2020 — rediscover the power of words during lockdown

    April 23 marks World Book and Copyright Day – an annual event created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. TheCity.ie’s Ayumi Miyano took advantage of lockdown to rediscover the power of reading, using solitude as an opportunity.

    In Paris in 1995, UNESCO selected April 23 as World Book and Copyright Day. This date also marks the deaths of prominent authors William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. In Ireland and Britain, ‘World Book Day’ is held on the first Thursday of every March. This year, UNESCO selected Kuala Lumpur as the World Book Capital to maintain the impetus of the Day’s celebrations through its own initiatives. 

    In Britain, World Book Night — run by The Reading Agency — takes place on the same day. Their #ReadingHour event occurs between 7pm and 8pm on the day, used to motivate audiences to read a book at home. 

    “It’s all about encouraging people to slow down, take some time out and just focus on reading, and reading for pleasure — just reading anything that you want to and enjoying the process,” Kathryn Rose, assistant programme manager of The Reading Agency, tells TheCity.ie. 

    Under the current coronavirus lockdown, the inspiration of World Book Night sounds as persuasive as ever. Although it is currently impossible to physically attend the book events due to the pandemic, why not join online book clubs instead? Buy books on virtual bookshops, show support for small businesses in Ireland, or use an Amazon Kindle and you’ll have plenty of time to read by yourself at home during the lockdown. 

    I have been preparing myself for April 23 — I readied some books on my Kindle, and prepared stacks of back-up options in my room. I forced myself to read them. However, at first, my stay-at-home reading trial was not easy. Notifications from social media, online media publications, emails, calendar, to-do lists, banks, and app updates endlessly pull my concentration away from the pages of my books.

    I admit that I used to be a bookworm — it reminds me of commuting to work, back when I was living in my hometown. The metro in Tokyo is normally overcrowded, and quiet. People pretend they are fine when minor or major disasters happen: somebody’s umbrella hits you, a train suddenly stops because the train hit a person at the platform, or a drunk woman suddenly gives you a big hug. No matter what happens, you have to keep yourself cool and relaxed — that is the way of the Tokyo commute.

    To follow this unwritten rule, I always tended to keep a book with me as a shield. Looking at my bookshelf, choosing the one with which I thought I could kick-off my day, was part of my everyday routine. With a book, I could easily distance myself from the outside world and dive into my imaginary world — a different kind of social distancing.

    However, my routine changed after I changed my old mobile phone to a brand-new smartphone. The impact of that transformation was life-changing. I could listen to music from my playlists, read newspapers from all over the world, observe the lives on my friends on social media, and even work from the phone. I knew that all books I loved were always on my shelf, but I no longer starting off my day with five minutes of “book selection” time. My biggest excuse for not reading books was that I could read anything on my phone, despite never actually following through. 

    Photo: Unsplash

    Even before the current version of isolation began, The Irish Times reported last year that Irish people were using their phones for four-and-a-half hours every day, including 64 minutes on social media, 53 minutes on video platforms like YouTube, 32 minutes on browsing the internet, and 20 minutes on sending and reading emails.  

    I think part of it is the distractions we have; from games and phone apps to constant social media attention. One of the main tips we would offer people is to put your phone on silent, or even put it in another room for full solitude.

    Of course, most of the time when we are browsing something on the phone, we are reading — reading newspaper articles, emails, posts and comments on social media — but in a speedy and spontaneous manner. When a notification pings, we tend to multitask checking on our social feed with whatever else we were doing so that we’re never quite apart from what’s going on with the digital world. Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram notifications plagues us with updates from acquaintances we haven’t spoken to in years, or from total strangers with filtered lives. We are unconsciously and endlessly consuming random information.

    “One of the main tips we would give people is to put your phone on silent, put it in another room,” Kathryn Rose says. “It doesn’t have to be for a long amount of time just maybe 10, 15 minutes, and just set yourself like small goals, say I’m going to read a chapter, I’m going to read five pages — and you can gradually build that up.”

    World Book Night was a great chance to get back to my reading routine. The challenging part was to create spare time without any distractions. Moreover, even when I am reading a book with my phone turned off, a voice is urging me to check the news, to exercise, to open my emails, to observe what my friends are doing online. The biggest distraction was always within my own head.

    “If you’re reading fiction, then that can definitely be an escape from your life. If you’re reading a news article, it’s very much about what’s going on, making yourself think about the world,” says Rose.  

    I have decided to indulge myself in just reading a book on April 23, with no phone notifications, zero work-related worries and no pressure to catch up on information in the digital world. I will allow myself to spend my entire day enjoying the simple act of reading. World Book Night will definitely indulge my rediscovery of words, and their endless power.

    Reading a book is a simple way to escape from the monotonous daily life of quarantine, and maybe even from yourself. You can be somebody else for World Book Night — embodying the true power of books.

  • Mis-Conceptions review: ‘The acting that came as a result was next to exceptional and really brought the audience in.’

    Mis-Conceptions review: ‘The acting that came as a result was next to exceptional and really brought the audience in.’

    Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing Helen McNamara’s fifth play, Mis-Conceptions, charmingly performed at Smock Alley Theatre in Temple Bar. Upon first inspection, the performance space seemed simplistic and minimalistic, however, this allowed for the focus to be on the plot, which gripped your attention right from the beginning.

    The set displayed different home-like settings for each scene for which the ‘Book Club meetings’ would take place, these meetings being crucial to the storyline.  Inside the set we are introduced to our six leading ladies and as described by Super Pie Theatre, it is all about “Six women. Six books. Six very unexpected misconceptions.”

    In the opening scene we are introduced to an angsty Sarah (Megan Bea Tiernan), adopted sister to Ann (Niamh Sweeney), upset and angry at a world where she feels she has no place, given up and never contacted again by her own birth mother. We are given slight insight throughout the play on each woman’s stance on having children, with the discussion of abortion popping up here and there.

    Misconceptions
    The play’s setting aims to evoke a home-like feel // Facebook

    The issue of women’s choices and women’s bodily rights is discussed frequently during the play and offers an insight into several different, and in some ways, opposing opinions from these six characters. There is mention of the Repeal campaign’s success in the play, which offers a new and exciting angle to the plot and ensures that, along with entertainment, this play addresses some real life issues faced in today’s Ireland.

    From beginning to end we are introduced to each woman’s own dealings with childbirth, or lack thereof, and are left feeling connected to each woman. They represent different, yet all equally strong, modern, Irish women. With each heartbreaking story comes feelings of pity, not lingering long before we are brought back into the story with a pop of humour.

    Spending the entire play trying to figure out the connection between all these women and their monthly book clubs, we are kept on the edge of our seat before finally the ultimate plot twist is revealed. We witness Grace (Rebecca Bloomfield) read aloud the missing chapter of her choice of book “The business of babies” where, in a surprising turn of events,  a character that had previously remained very much in the background suddenly becomes the centre of the storyline. The acting that came as a result was next to exceptional and really brought the audience in.

    Misconceptions2
    Megan Bea Tiernan gives one of the play’s standout performances // Facebook

    While all of the actors in this play are worth noting, the standouts include Michelle Costello playing the ever bubbly, humorous and, in some cases, goofy Elaine who continuously caused eruptions of laughter from the audience. Megan Bea Tiernan who played Sarah also gave a heart wrenching performance, and her acting chops are undeniable.

    The play is beautifully written by Helena McNamara and directed excellently by Niamh Cummins, offering smooth scene changes, a clear focus and united form that was impressive to witness, with each actor knowing when to pipe up and when to pull back. With everything discussed here it is easy to say that this play was exceptionally written, directed and performed by all of the cast and crew.

     

     

  • Dublin’s Fusion Sundays Market is relocating

    Dublin’s Fusion Sundays Market is relocating

    Dublin’s world culture market, Fusion Sundays, is relocating from Newmarket Square. The market celebrates diversity and hosts over 40 international stalls.

    “The Fusion Sundays Market has been running in Newmarket for over six years, we are currently relocating due to [the] redevelopment of the area,” said Nadia Cassidy, creator and director of the market.  

    The Fusion Sundays market was one of five thriving Dublin markets to lose their home in Newmarket Square: Dublin Flea Market, The Brocante, Fusion Sundays World Culture Market, Newmarket Collective and The Pure Vintage Fair.  All of these markets have joined together in the search for a new city centre location.

    Fusion Sundays Market Facebook @fusionsundaysmarket
    Fusion Sundays Market hasn’t been active since June // Facebook @fusionsundaysmarket

    The last Fusion Sundays Market was held in June.  The markets were told to leave their operating space on June 12th.  

    There have been attempts to find suitable locations for the market over the last four months, but it has proven very difficult. The Dublin Flea Market team have approached Dublin City Council, the Office of Public Works, estate agents, landlords and community centres, all of which have turned them away.  However, Nadia assures that the market will be back up and running as soon as possible.

    “We have stalls from across the globe offering a great selection of ethnic food, craft and design, as well as souvenirs. More than just a market, we also offer cultural experiences with dance and music performances throughout the day and workshops for adults and kids.”

    The market’s objective is to provide a display of international cultures in Ireland.  Its aim is to create a way for people to integrate and become part of a wider community, while also giving support and opportunities to small businesses and start-ups.

    “You can meet people from every continent at the market. We have food stalls from India, Mexico and Japan. Kenyan craft, Polish designers, as well as representatives from various organisations, such as Amnesty International and people from Direct Provision offering information,” adds Nadia.

    Bollywood dancers at Fusion Sundays Market Facebook @fusionsundaysmarket
    Bollywood dancers at Fusion Sundays Market // Facebook @fusionsundaysmarket

  • Cirque du Soleil returns to Dublin performing their 25th anniversary show, Ovo

    Cirque du Soleil returns to Dublin performing their 25th anniversary show, Ovo

    Ovo, the new show from Cirque du Soleil, opened to a packed house on Thursday night and once again the Cirque delivered the most unique display of human creativity and athleticism the world has to offer.

    The theme of this show is easy to decipher. The world of ants and other insects is brought to the stage in the most spectacular fashion, as the Cirque successfully portrays ‘The Enigma of Life’ through the weird and wonderful humans that make a circus … well, a circus.  

    CirqueduSoleil_OVO_4AerialStraps_5
    The unusual theme lends itself to some of the most provocative storytelling since the show’s creation // cirquedusoleil.com

    The Cirque provides a study of aesthetic. Beauty and taste being two of the most subjective ideologies; and while their successful coupling is not always agreed upon, I imagine most people who have witnessed Ovo will nod decisively at each other in admiration and silent agreement that it is moving art.

    Cirque du Soleil has been around for decades simply because it is one of the most beautiful exhibitions of human ability available.

    Grown adults ‘ooooh’ and ‘aaaah’ throughout the performance. Not only that but they laughed at the silent clowns’ antics, while those who didn’t were grinning like idiots.

    The Cirque drew in a mixed crowd with its moderately priced tickets (the cheapest of which will set you back roughly €54). Arty students, couples, parents with children and the lovely corporates who arrive 16 mins late to their free seats (a little too tipsy considering it’s 7pm) all crowded into the 3Arena.

    The opening act is hypnotic. A group of performers dressed as red ants lie on their backs and juggle abnormally large slices of cucumber with their feet in perfect synchronicity. The mesmerising movements capture imaginations, giving you no option but to provide your undivided attention.

    CirqueduSoleil_OVO_1FootJuggling_1
    An army of insects juggling inflatable kiwis with their feet // cirquedusoliel.com

    Never leaving character, the performers’ facial expressions are all unique and discerning. Even from a distance, the grasshoppers look curious. One of them plays with the floor lights as if they were ‘whack a mole’, as another stares wide-eyed at the main protagonist of the story, a blue bottle fly.

     

    The story is simple and effective. It takes the small, energetic world of insects and places the stranger (the blue bottle), who arrives with an egg strapped to his back, in the middle of their diverse community.

    The other creatures take him in and he falls in love with a ladybug. The show revolves around the humorous interactions that follow between them, interspersed with acts based around the theme of Nature.

    Many of the acts fall under this overarching theme, but take different angles like: ‘how delicate life is,’ ‘curiosity,’ ‘passion,’ and ‘anger’. One of the standout acts is the acrobatic duo who represent the butterfly, and both fly through the air with death-defying confidence.

    CirqueduSoleil_OVO_8Slackwire_1
    Within this insectoid world, each display of athleticism is truly impressive // cirquedusoleil.com

    Another is the spider who tight-wire walks 4.5 meters above the ground, displaying amazing strength and balance, which culminated with him doing an upside-down unicycle across the wire not once, but twice.

    Each act showed a complete mastery in its respective field. A circus that can capture the imagination of adults through such an old art form, their creativity pushes the boundaries of what is possible to be humanly acted out, and the show still continues to surprise. Even the most cynical of us couldn’t say it’s predictable.

  • Which New York City Subway MetroCard to Buy?

    Which New York City Subway MetroCard to Buy?

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  • A whole lotta pop culture to celebrate in 2017

    A whole lotta pop culture to celebrate in 2017

    This year sees a slew of films reaching milestone birthdays. Aoife Loughnane revisits two and wonders why pop cultural icons are worth celebrating?

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  • Judging the politics of awards shows

    Judging the politics of awards shows

     With award season upon us and some controversy about political speeches, Eimear Dodd suggests that award shows might provide a platform to start a wider conversation.

    (more…)

  • A Break From The City: The Philippines

    A Break From The City: The Philippines

    By Kieva McLaughlin

    Despite being one of the most beautiful countries in the world, the Philippines is only recently starting to attract tourists. If you are one of the soon to be visitors to this Asian paradise, read on to get tips and guidance on your route, travel options and the top activities to do while you are there.

    Manila

    Manila, the capital, is the easiest place to fly into internationally. One or two days is more than enough time to spend here if you are short on time. Although it does not boast the picturesque scenes you will find on the islands, the shopping is fantastic.

    The Philippines has four of the ten biggest shopping centres in the world, with the third and fourth biggest located in Manila. If you are interested in getting really good designer fakes, Greenhills Shopping Centre is the place to go. Those good at haggling will get some great bargains here.

    Boracay

    After a couple of days in Manila I would suggest flying into Boracay. If you fly into Kalibo, the flight will be extremely cheap but you will have to drive a couple of hours to get to Boracay. Ariel’s Point tour is a must when you are here.

    13512202_10153833048128460_369147523860838921_n
    (Source: Kieva McLaughlin)

    You will spend the day making friends, snorkelling, cliff jumping, and kayaking, with all you can eat food and all you can handle drink.

    If you aren’t on a budget I would recommend staying in Azalea Hotels and Residences Boracay. The hotel’s rooms and facilities are impeccable and the staff are very accommodating and friendly. The food in the Philippines is not the best as a whole, but Boracay has a lot of beach restaurants and Spiderhouse’s view is amazing if you go at sunset. The nightlife in Boracay is very lively, so if you are into beach bars and cocktails, this is the place to go.

    Cebu

    I flew into Cebu from Kalibo, again the flight is very cheap so is definitely worth it. The three places I would aim to go in Cebu are; Moalboal, Bohol, and Oslob. Moalboal is very quiet at night but the day time is all about scuba diving and snorkeling, if you are into that it is definitely not one to miss, with some of the best dive sites in the whole country. While you are there I would recommend taking a trip to Kawasan Falls, it’s a little hike to a waterfall in a small rainforest.

    13529059_10153825377018460_4054075433041110935_n
    (Source: Kieva McLaughlin)

    Oslob is good for one thing – swimming with the whale sharks. This was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had and I would strongly recommend doing it. Drive down from Moalboal the night before and get up really early to be there for the whale sharks early feeding. I would recommend staying in Casa Solmar Oslob, there’s not much accommodation nearby but the owners are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. They will organise everything for you including a boat to Bohol the next morning because there are no commercial ferries.

    Bohol is where a lot of the activities are situated. You can rent a car with a driver for the day who will bring you around to all the best activities. I would suggest ATVing around the chocolate hills, zip-lining, visiting the tarsier monkeys, and lunch on the Loboc river.

    El Nido

    The last place I visited was El Nido. Again, I flew straight to El Nido but this can be a quite expensive trip. Alternatively you can get a cheaper flight into Puerto Princesa, and get a six hour bus up to El Nido.

    13501865_10153823463484385_8893064177253704112_n
    (Source: Kieva McLaughlin)

    There are four tours in El Nido- A, B, C, and D. I would recommend doing tours A and C, you spend the day snorkelling and kayaking in loads of amazing islands, beaches, and lagoons.

    Dining in El Nido is a bit better than elsewhere in the Philippines, including an amazing Italian restaurant called Altrove that does homemade pasta and pizza. Artcafe is also worth a try.

    All of the beaches in El Nido are amazing but I would strongly suggest visiting Nacpan and Calitang Beach if you have time.

    Coron

    I did not visit here myself but if you have time left over after El Nido you can always take a boat up to Coron for a few days. It has some of the best wreck diving in the world.
  • Justin Bieber’s Purpose World Tour Wows Dublin

    Justin Bieber’s Purpose World Tour Wows Dublin

    By Kieva McLaughlin

    Justin Bieber brought his Purpose World Tour to the 3 Arena on the 1st and 2nd of November.  It was his first time touring since 2012-2013 with his Believe Tour.  Both dates sold out within minutes with overwhelming demand from fans across Ireland.

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    Source – Wikimedia

    The tour has previously made headlines when the ‘What Do You Mean’ singer was perceived as being bratty and stroppy.  During his Manchester gig he stormed off stage after his fans wouldn’t stop screaming while he was talking.

    Justin began his Dublin concert while donning an Irish flag on the front of his t-shirt, with ‘Dublin’ written on the back.  He appeared in a glass box with a very energetic, heavily choreographed ‘Where Are U Now’.

    Over the course of the concert Justin began to lose some energy, which can be forgiven because of his elaborate dances that would be sure to take it out of anyone.  Justin’s back up dancers were superb and gave it their all throughout the whole show.  Lasers, lights, and pyrotechnics accompanied almost every song.

    Justin showcased his natural ability to sing when he took to stage, with just himself a couch and a guitar.  He sat down with the effects stripped back and played ‘Cold Water’ and ‘Love Yourself’. The 22- year old singer was apparently eager to show off his instrumental skills, and later in the show he played a surprisingly good solo on the drums.

    jb2-wikipedia
    Source – Wikipedia

    Justin began most of his songs with a quick-witted intro. For his song ‘Company’, the singer began by telling his fans, “Imagine being on the road for a year, away from friends, away from family.” He then thanked his fans for being there to keep him company through it all, during this, a platform trampoline came out of nowhere and hung from the ceiling.  Justin and his dancers ran up the stairs to it to start the song.

    A standout song on the night was ‘Children.’ A competition had previously been run to find skilled Irish child dancers to take part.  They absolutely nailed it and after the song they were all smitten, as Justin addressed them all individually.

    Justin closed his show with the highlight of the night, “Sorry.” A long black blow up was put on stage and the Canadian singer and his dancers performed while rain lashed down on them.  Everybody left the concert feeling elated and wanting more.