Public Arena
Artist Name(s) | Jos van der Pol & Lisbeth Bik |
Artwork title | Public Arena |
Context/Background | Public Arena was commissioned under South Dublin County Council's In Context 3 public art programme, of which the principle component was to create time for the artists to engage with the context. In 2007 Bik van der Pol noticed a half finished site. A nice green pitch, a half built concrete stand, with fences all around. Nothing seemed to happen there, even though it was located in the very heart of Tallaght, where new construction developments, such as hotels, shops, housing and office facilities, rapidly arose and surrounded this silent site. This site was Tallaght Stadium, a contemporary ruin where time seemed to have frozen. This site proved to be a major conflict zone in which two sports clubs (soccer club Shamrock Rovers and the local Gaelic football club Thomas Davis) and South Dublin County Council were the main players. The construction of Tallaght Stadium began in October 2000, but had been delayed due to financial problems and legal disputes between the two sports clubs. Finally, after a long period of court cases, the first soccer game in the finished stadium took place in spring 2009. The controversial history over the use of this stadium created a focus on this public space of shared interest. This site was, long before it was brought into use as a community stadium, firmly grounded in Tallaght and its history should not just be erased and forgotten. |
Description | Public Arena is a triptych using three distinct medium which explore, animate and celebrate the socio-political journey of Tallaght Stadium. These include:
Other events to mark the project included: |
Mediation | Visual Artists Newsletter, July-August 2008. |
Biographies | Bik Van der Pol (artists Liesbeth Bik and Jos van der Pol) have been making work collectively since 1995. They explore the potential of art to produce and transmit knowledge, and they research methods of how to activate situations and to create platforms for collective activities. Recent exhibitions include One Day Sculpture, Auckland, (2009); U-Turn, Copenhagen; Marie Louise Hessel Museum/CCS Bard, NY; Van AbbeMuseum, Eindhoven; ISP Whitney, New York; Kiscelli Museum, Budapest (2008); Istanbul Biennale; European Kunsthalle, Cologne; Moscow Biennale (2007); INSA Art Space, Seoul; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; MOCA, Taipei (2006); Secession, Vienna; Cork Caucus (2005). |
Commission Type | Local Authority |
Commissioner Name | South Dublin County Council |
Artform | Visual Arts |
Funded By | South Dublin County Council |
Percent for art | Yes |
Budget Range | 150000 - 250000 euro |
Location | Tallaght, South Dublin |
County | Dublin |
Town | Tallaght |
Google Map Insert | View this projects location |
Content contributor(s) | Rachel McAree |
Relationship to project | In Context 3 Project Manager |