Opening reception June 24th 7pm – 9pm

An experimental collaborative project of work by NCAD MA students, Art in Contemporary World and UCD MA Architecture students.

This collaborative process began with a series of discussion between UCD and NCAD students at Newman House opposite St. Stephens’ Green, Dublin. Over a period of weeks people worked in groups to develop an experimental collaborative process between visual arts, literature, sound, video, and architectural working methodologies. There was no set remit; it was open ended, debatable, and constructive as a work in progress.

NCAD and UCD became a mini collective in their approach to this project which manifested itself naturally through conversation, random dialogue, research, presentations and now finally at 126.This collaborative working group have the opportunity to develop this project within the artist led experimental space. Contemporary Art offers the platform to represent this plurality through visual art, writing and architecture. Here collaborative strategies such as psycho geography, social play, appropriation, literature, music, intervention are employed to critique our sense of the public park, our sense of what a public space is. Visual artists often use this space in their practice while architects design and plan it. Through this embrace of common collaborative strategies can the combination of art and architecture find a new voice or discover the opportunity for a new world within our modern living?

126 is Galway’s first artist-led exhibition space. A non- profit organisation, 126 was established in 2005 by local Artists in response to the urgent need for more non-commercial gallery spaces in Galway. 126 has developed a reputation as an organization, which supports traditionally unrepresented artistic projects. Because 126 is a non-profit, publicly funded gallery space, it is able to make decisions on an artistic rather than an economic basis. As such, 126 is gaining recognition and support as a place of cultural innovation in Ireland and is becoming an integral part of Galway’s cultural fabric. 126 is generously supported by the Arts Council of Ireland, Galway City Council and its membership.