05 Nov 2010

Tulca Festival of Visual Arts 2010

Tulca 2010 will storm Galway from the 6th to the 21st of November exhibiting the work of over 40 national and international artists across 8 venues in the City. Tulca now holds a vital place in the cultural calendar of Ireland, engaging and challenging audiences with new and fresh ideas, and art that audiences want to see.

Curator Michelle Browne looked to Galway for inspiration for this year's Festival, 'The city of Galway is situated on the coast of Ireland, on the edge of Europe, and looks out to the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Over time Galway has inspired both inward and outward movement of people and in many cases offers a unique way of life to its citizens.' This year's theme – Living on the Edge: People, Place & Possibility – reflects the peripheral position of Galway and its inhabitants to the wider-world, and explores the notion of outposts, or places on the fringes of society, and their inhabitants across Ireland and the globe.

Tulca are delighted to present the renowned work by Mexico-based artist Francis Alÿs, 'When Faith Moves Mountains' which evokes images of social empowerment and collective action among 500 volunteers on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Also part of the 2010 programme is the work of artist and architect Marjetica Potrč, 'Xapuri: Rural School' is a case study of a primary school that has been built in a remote area of the Amazonian forest in the Brazilian state of Acre. Alÿs and Potrč's work will be exhibited for the 2 weeks of the Festival in the Docks Shed.

A range of Irish artists will take part in Tulca 2010 including Mary Noonan, Damien O'Connell, Oliver Comerford, Rhona Byrne and a selection of artists based in Galway's Engage Studios. Artist Fiona Woods has created 'Common?' a work made for the public realm, and specifically for Tulca. Composed of images and text, it is a consideration of commonality and the idea of what cannot be owned. The work is deliberately located on the edge between the space of art and the wider visual economy, and will be on display at various bicycle shelters across Galway throughout the Festival.

There is a really strong performance element to this year's programme. Bbeyond the performance art network from Belfast will open Tulca 2010. Paolo Paz Yee from Mexico City will perform in the Nun's Island venue, and the internationally renowned performance artist Helge Meyer will also be performing in Nun's Island. Admission to all events is free, see www.tulca.ie for full programme details.