Mr. Simon Harris, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (6 September 2014) officially opened an exhibition entitled 'The Palimpsest/Rianú Project' at the Pearse Musuem, St. Enda's Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.

The Palimpsest/ Rianú Project is a collaborative art project which brought together eight Irish artists to develop work to represent Ireland at Artisterium VI in Tbilisi, Georgia in October 2013. Each artist was invited to develop an initial image which was then passed to the next artist and so on until each of the eight artists had worked on each of the images.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Harris said "I am delighted that my Office, the Office of Public Works could bring this unique collaboration to the Pearse Museum. The initial inspiration for the exhibition for Artisterium VI - "Am I you"? looked at how we deal with "the others" in our lives - other ethnic groups, other nations, other groups. In honour of the wonderful location of this Museum and the legacy of the Pearse brothers, each artist also developed an individual work responding to the location here in St. Enda's. The works look at everything from Pearse's own self-image to his employment of Irish myths in the life of the school".

'The Palimpsest/Rianú Project’ will be on view in the Pearse Museum until 30 November 2014. Admission Free.

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Notes to Editors:

If you wish to interview Minister Harris please contact Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 942 6128, 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie

The Palimpsest/ Rianú Project is a collaborative art project which brought together eight Irish artists to develop work to represent Ireland at Artisterium VI in Tbilisi, Georgia in October 2013. Continuing with this collaboration, the project was then presented in An Gailearaí in Gweedore, Co. Donegal in June 2014 and its latest outing is in the Pearse Museum in Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin in September 2014. The eight participating artists were: Colin Martin RHA, Brian Fay, Mary A.Fitzgerald, Claire Halpin, Eoin Mac Lochlainn, Aoife McGarrigle, Kate Murphy and Nuala Ní Fhlathúin.

Each artist was invited to develop an initial image which was then emailed on to the next artist in the group. The second artist responded to it by working over it or manipulating it in some way and then emailed it on to the third artist who also responded to it and passed it on. The process continued until each of the eight artists had worked on each of the eight images. The title “Palimpsest / Rianú” refers to the original palimpsests - ancient manuscript pages which were erased so that they could be reused and overwritten – and Rianú, the Irish word for tracing. There is a trace of each of the eight artist’s hand left in all of the final works.

For further information on the Pearse Museum/St. Enda's Park please contact 01 493 4208 or see www.heritageireland.ie

High quality Images of the exhibition available on request.

Contact Details:

Address: St. Enda's Park, Grange Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16. Telephone No: +353 1 493 4208 Email: brian.crowley@opw.ie

Opening Hours:

Pearse Museum: Nov - Jan: Mon & Wed - Sat 09.30 - 16.00 Feb Mon & Wed - Sat 09.30 - 17.00 Mar - Oct: Mon & Wed - Sat 09.30 - 17.30

Sundays & Bank Holidays - opens 10.00

Please note: The Pearse Museum is closed on Tuesdays.

The Museum closes over the Christmas Period. 

St. Enda's Park: Nov – Jan 9.00am - 4.30pm February 9.00am - 5.30pm March 9.00am - 6.00pm April 9.00am - 8.00pm May – Aug 9.00am - 9.00pm September 9.00am - 8.00pm October 9.00am - 6.00pm

Weekends/ Bank Holidays - Park opens 10am 

Park closed Christmas Day