By Barry Coughlan
Works by Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol, Damien Hirst and Francis Bacon, will be featured at Cork’s Five-Star hotel complex the Castlemartyr Resort later this month.
The International art and sculpture fair Art and Soul hosted by Gormleys is Ireland’s biggest art and sculpture event and will run from May 27 to June 18.
Showcasing $7.7 million worth of works by some of the biggest names in international and Irish art, the free event will feature a major outdoor sculpture exhibition of 80 large sculptures and installations set throughout the 220-acre grounds of the 17th-century manor estate.
With a total of over 200 works on display, this will be the largest showcase of sculpture in Ireland to date and it will feature international artists alongside leading Irish sculptors Patrick O’Reilly, Ian Pollock, Bob Quinn, Sandra Bell, Eamonn Ceannt, John Fitzgerald, Anthony Scott and Orla De Brí.
The hotel’s interior will display 100 artworks by some of the aforementioned internationally renowned- artists.
Art and Soul will also include exhibitions by Warhol and renowned Irish artists Martin Mooney, Maser, Peter Monaghan, Gordon Harris, and Stephen Forbes, and a feature of the event is that all of the artworks will be for sale, with prices ranging from $1,000 up to $490,000.
This will be the eighth major art and sculpture event Gormleys have organized, but the first time they have brought it south of Dublin.
“Building on the success of previous events, we are delighted to expand Art and Soul to Cork,” said Oliver Gormley, “Art and Soul gives art lovers a unique opportunity to view these incredible works of art in the beautiful surroundings of Castlemartyr.
“Adults and children will enjoy the event equally, and our previous events in Russborough and the Culloden Hotel attracted over 10,000 visitors,” he said.
Castlemartyr Resort is offering special rates for Art and Soul overnight stays, afternoon tea and dining opportunities in their restaurant Terre, which was recently awarded a Michelin star.
“We are delighted to be bringing this incredible event to Cork and have worked closely with Gormleys for many months in organizing the exhibition,” said Brendan Comerford, General Manager of Castlemartyr Resort.
“We are confident that visitors will truly appreciate the collection of work and the entire experience.”
During the event, there will be a program of artists’ talks and daily guided tours.
Art and Soul will be open to the public daily from 11 am–7 pm.
More information and accommodation offers can be found on www.gormleys.ie or www.castlemartyrresort.ie