The Poetry of Vision: The ROSC Art Exhibitions, 1967–1988

€35.00

Peter Shortt

November 2016

The Poetry of Vision is the first book to explore the history of Rosc, the most influential series of contemporary art exhibitions to take place in Ireland during the twentieth century. The Rosc project was rooted in idealism, but quickly – and consistently – sparked mass controversy.

Paperback

ISBN: 9781911024293 Categories: , ,

Description

The Poetry of Vision is the first book to explore the history of Rosc, the most influential series of contemporary art exhibitions to take place in Ireland during the twentieth century. Conceived by Ireland’s leading modernist architect, Michael Scott, Ireland was to play host to a major international art exhibition, approximately every four years, from 1967 to 1988, which brought the Irish public and Irish artists into contact with developments in international contemporary art. Rosc helped to combat the conservative and dying academicism of Irish art education of the sixties, which had rejected avant-garde developments. The Rosc project was rooted in idealism, but quickly – and consistently – sparked mass controversy.

Beyond the uproar, there was the art itself. An imaginative concept, Rosc continually acted as the main conduit to the Irish public and artistic community on avant-garde advances, tracing the transition from modernism to postmodernism, and provided exemplars and precedents for young Irish artists. Rosc had a dramatic impact on the public; some were outraged at what they saw as ‘rubbish’ masquerading as art. For others, Rosc was a revelation, opening their eyes to a new experience. In The Poetry of Vision, Peter Shortt details every confrontation and breakthrough to expose the true achievement and significance of the Rosc exhibitions in this lavishly illustrated book.

Table of Contents

  1. The Prelude to Rosc ’67: A Monumental Row
  2. Rosc ’67: The Exhibitions
  3. Rosc ’71: An Extravagant Affair
  4. Rosc ’77: A Disappointing Exhibition
  5. Rosc ’80: An Exciting Performance
  6. Rosc ’84: ‘Nothing endures but change’
  7. Rosc ’88: The end of an era
  8. Rosc: Its Influences and Interactions
    Conclusion: Rosc – An Unnecessary and Untimely End

About the Author

Dr Peter Shortt, BA, BCL, is an art historian and a former patent attorney and intellectual property consultant. He is a PhD graduate of the School of Art History & Cultural Policy, University College Dublin.

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