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Gerard Byrne

Visually rich and intellectually complex, the work of Gerard Byrne in photography, film, theatre and multi-screen installation examines the slippage between time and the act of image creation. Characterised by a laconic humour, Byrne’s projects examine the ambiguities of language and of what is gained or lost in the translation of text to image, or the reconstruction of a past in the present. By revisiting historical conversations, interviews and performances and cultural technologies, Byrne tests our perception of the past and the present, and highlights the complex way art engages its own place in time. His varied photographic series demonstrate that while images are fixed in time they are also interpreted in flux – a situation that both creates and distorts our knowledge of what came before. Byrne is precise in his research and analysis of the relationship between time, documentation and an identifiable visual language, and while each of his distinct bodies of work is conceived independently, they resonate together as being made in relation to a specific, but malleable historical referent.


Gerard Byrne was born in 1969 in Dublin, Ireland, where he lives and works. Solo exhibitions include Secession, Vienna, Austria (2019); Douglas Hyde Gallery, Dublin, Ireland (2018); Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden (2017); Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, Australia (2016); Mead Gallery, Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry, UK (2016); Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland (2015); FRAC Pays de la Loire, Nantes, France (2014); The Whitechapel Gallery, London, UK (2013); Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal (2012); IMMA, Dublin, Ireland (2011); Milton Keynes Gallery, Milton Keynes, UK (2011); The Renaissance Society, Chicago, IL, USA (2011); Lismore Castle Arts, Ireland (2010); The Common Guild, Glasgow, UK (2010); ICA Boston, Boston, MA, USA (2008); Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, Denmark (2008); Dusseldorf Kunstverein, Dusseldorf, Germany (2007); Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania (2007); MUMOK, Vienna, Austria (2006); BAK, Utrecht, The Netherlands (2004); Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt, Germany (2003). In 2007 he represented Ireland at the 52nd Venice Biennale. He has also participated in dOCUMENTA 13, Kassel, Germany 2012; Performa, New York City, NY, USA (2011); the 54th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2011); Auckland Biennial, New Zealand (2010); Gwangju Biennial, South Korea (2008); Sydney Biennial, Australia (2008); Lyon Biennial, France (2007); Tate Triennial, London, UK (2006); and the Istanbul Biennale, Turkey (2003).

In Our Time, 2017

Gerard Byrne
In Our Time, 2017

Single channel film installation (Rear projection, mise-en-scene elements including vintage JBL 4425 Studio Monitors, etc) with 8 channel audio

In Our Time, 2017

Gerard Byrne
In Our Time, 2017

Single channel film installation (Rear projection, mise-en-scene elements including vintage JBL 4425 Studio Monitors, etc) with 8 channel audio

Jielemeguvvie guvvie sjisjnjeli (Film inside an image), 2015-2016

Gerard Byrne
Jielemeguvvie guvvie sjisjnjeli (Film inside an image), 2015-2016

Single channel film, back projection 17 minutes, continuous loop.
Installation view at 'Life Inside an Image', Monash University Museum of Art, Victoria, Australia, 2016. Courtesy Monash University Museum of Art.

Jielemeguvvie guvvie sjisjnjeli (Film inside an image), 2015-2016

Gerard Byrne
Jielemeguvvie guvvie sjisjnjeli (Film inside an image), 2015-2016

Single channel film, back projection 17 minutes, continuous loop.
Installation view at 'Life Inside an Image', Monash University Museum of Art, Victoria, Australia, 2016. Courtesy Monash University Museum of Art.

Beasts, 2018

Gerard Byrne
Beasts, 2018

Analogue silver gelatin prints Dimensions variable Installation view of 'Gerard Byrne, Upon all the living and the dead', Secession, Vienna, Austria, 2019. © Gerard Byrne. Courtesy Secession, Vienna. Photography Iris Ranzinger.

Common Crane, 2018

Gerard Byrne
Common Crane, 2018

Analogue silver gelatin print
Framed: 99 x 123 cm / 38 7/8 x 48 3/8 in

Red Squirrel, 2018

Gerard Byrne
Red Squirrel, 2018

Analogue silver gelatin print
Framed: 56 x 46 cm / 22 x 18 in

A man and a woman make love

Gerard Byrne
A man and a woman make love

2012
Television production, Variable loop of approximately 19 minutes

A man and a woman make love

Gerard Byrne
A man and a woman make love

2012
Television production, Variable loop of approximately 19 minutes

A thing is a hole in a thing it is not

Gerard Byrne
A thing is a hole in a thing it is not

2010
Five HD video projections, duration: 2 mins to 30 mins

A thing is a hole in a thing it is not

Gerard Byrne
A thing is a hole in a thing it is not

2010
Five HD video projections, duration: 2 mins to 30 mins

A thing is a hole in a thing it is not

Gerard Byrne
A thing is a hole in a thing it is not

2010
Five HD video projections, duration: 2 mins to 30 mins

He searches for the contrary of saved, 2014

Gerard Byrne
He searches for the contrary of saved, 2014

Single channel black and white HD video with sound Indefinite loop

ITN10904 (*see description), 2012

Gerard Byrne
ITN10904 (*see description), 2012

Silver Gelatin print
Framed: 134 x 167 x 6 cm / 52 3/4 x 65 3/4 x 2 3/8 in.

ITN13204 (*see description), 2014

Gerard Byrne
ITN13204 (*see description), 2014

Silver gelatin print
Framed: 134 x 167 x 6 cm / 52 3/4 x 65 3/4 x 2 3/8 in

A country road. A tree. Evening. The turn in the road at Pine Valley, on the way up to Glencullen.

Gerard Byrne
A country road. A tree. Evening. The turn in the road at Pine Valley, on the way up to Glencullen.

2008
Analog C-type colour photograph Unframed: 88 x 110 cm / 34 5/8 x 43 5/16 in.

Route à la Campagne, avec Arbre. Soir. Au sud du vignoble des Bonnelly, en direction du Nord Est, à travers un champ de vignes entre Les Petite Verrière et St Sers, 2008

Gerard Byrne
Route à la Campagne, avec Arbre. Soir. Au sud du vignoble des Bonnelly, en direction du Nord Est, à travers un champ de vignes entre Les Petite Verrière et St Sers, 2008

Analog C-type colour photograph Unframed: 88 x 110 cm / 34 5/8 x 43 5/16 in.

Subject

Gerard Byrne
Subject

2008
Three channel work for monitors, and a vinyl wall text Duration: approx. 50 mins

Subject

Gerard Byrne
Subject

2008
Three channel work for monitors, and a vinyl wall text Duration: approx. 50 mins

A Young Woman Contemplating a Skull

Gerard Byrne
A Young Woman Contemplating a Skull

2008
Selenium toned Silver Gelatin photographic print 89 x 78.5 cm / 35 1/16 x 30 5/16 in.

Earth after the Fall of Man

Gerard Byrne
Earth after the Fall of Man

2008
Selenium toned Silver Gelatin photographic print 89 x 78.5 cm / 34 1/4 x 30 15/16 in.

Images or shadows of divine things

Gerard Byrne
Images or shadows of divine things

2005
Selenium-toned silver gelatin prints Unframed: 24 x 30 cm / 9 7/16 x 11 13/16 in.

Images or shadows of divine things

Gerard Byrne
Images or shadows of divine things

2005-ongoing
Selenium-toned silver gelatin prints Unframed: 24 x 30 cm / 9 7/16 x 11 13/16 in.

Images or shadows of divine things

Gerard Byrne
Images or shadows of divine things

2005
Selenium-toned silver gelatin prints Unframed: 24 x 30 cm / 9 7/16 x 11 13/16 in.

Images or shadows of divine things

Gerard Byrne
Images or shadows of divine things

2005
Selenium-toned silver gelatin prints Unframed: 24 x 30 cm / 9 7/16 x 11 13/16 in.

New Sexual Lifestyles

Gerard Byrne
New Sexual Lifestyles

2003
Three-channel video shown on monitors, nonlinear duration: approx. 54 minutes ;seven photographs, Dimensions variable

New Sexual Lifestyles

Gerard Byrne
New Sexual Lifestyles

2003
Three-channel video shown on monitors, nonlinear duration: approx. 54 minutes ;seven photographs, Dimensions variable

New Sexual Lifestyles

Gerard Byrne
New Sexual Lifestyles

2003
Three-channel video shown on monitors, nonlinear duration: approx. 54 minutes ;seven photographs, Dimensions variable

New Sexual Lifestyles

Gerard Byrne
New Sexual Lifestyles

2003
Three-channel video shown on monitors, nonlinear duration: approx. 54 minutes ;seven photographs, Dimensions variable

Gerard Byrne, Case Study: loch Ness (Some Possibilities and Problems) 2001 - 2011

Gerard Byrne
Gerard Byrne, Case Study: loch Ness (Some Possibilities and Problems) 2001 - 2011

2001-2011
Installation view: MK Gallery, Milton Keynes, 14 January - 3 April 2011

Gerard Byrne, Case Study: loch Ness (Some Possibilities and Problems) 2001 - 2011

Gerard Byrne
Gerard Byrne, Case Study: loch Ness (Some Possibilities and Problems) 2001 - 2011

2001-2011
Installation view: MK Gallery, Milton Keynes, 14 January - 3 April 2011

Gerard Byrne, Case Study: loch Ness (Some Possibilities and Problems) 2001 - 2011

Gerard Byrne
Gerard Byrne, Case Study: loch Ness (Some Possibilities and Problems) 2001 - 2011

2001-2011
Installation view: MK Gallery, Milton Keynes, 14 January - 3 April 2011

Contact in sixteen possible permutations

Gerard Byrne
Contact in sixteen possible permutations

2001-ongoing
16 silver gelatin prints Framed: 20.3 x 25.4 cm / 8 x 10 in.

Exhibitions

  1. Gerard Byrne: In Our Time - past exhibition

    Gerard Byrne: In Our Time

    3 November – 22 December 2017

  2. Gerard Byrne  - past exhibition

    Gerard Byrne

    18 September – 7 November 2014

  3. Gerard Byrne: Present Continuous Past - past exhibition

    Gerard Byrne: Present Continuous Past

    30 January – 9 March 2013

  4. Gerard Byrne: more archetypal forms - past exhibition

    Gerard Byrne: more archetypal forms

    11 February – 21 March 2009

  5. Gerard Byrne - past exhibition

    Gerard Byrne

    23 March – 4 May 2007

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