This large-scale international group exhibition Desire: A Revision from the 20^th Century to the Digital Age, is co-curated by Yuko Hasegawa, Artistic Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo, and Rachel Thomas, Senior Curator; Head of Exhibitions, IMMA. The exhibition explores the evolving role of desire in art and life and its relationship to structures of power. New commissions of contemporary works alongside a succinct selection of master works of the 20th-century offer a unique examination of the relationship between desire, technological advancements, and its impact on social structures.

Featuring an exciting selection of modern masterworks and landmark contemporary art works by Matthew Barney, Frank Bowling, Lee Bul, Oisín Byrne, Helen Chadwick, Dorothy Cross, David Douard, Marcel Duchamp, Justine Emard, Tracey Emin, Awol Erizku, Max Ernst, Cao Fei, Genieve Figgis, Ann Maria Healy, Elaine Hoey, Juliana Huxtable, James Joyce, Bharti Kher, Jonah King, Seiha Kurosawa, Yayoi Kusama, René Magritte, Koji Nakazono, David O’Reilly, Eddie Peake, Tschabalala Self, Patrick Staff, Mickalene Thomas and VALIE EXPORT.

Spanning over 100 years, the exhibition explores the development of desire through the lens of the eurocentric male gaze and its influence in shaping artistic depictions of desire in contemporary culture.

The exhibition includes collaborations and talks across the museum campus. Audiences are encouraged to consider how the primal and nostalgic nature of desire has been refashioned into a deeply complex and often alien element of one’s own identity in both physical and digital realities, and to question whether desire is the fundamental motivation of all action.

A special associated project, The Prince of Homburg, by artist Patrick Staff, is co-commissioned by IMMA and Dundee Contemporary Arts, Scotland. The Prince of Homburg continues until 17 November 2019.

Visitor Notice: Visitors are advised that this exhibition contains nudity and some explicit imagery. On arrival please talk to a member of our Visitor Engagement Team if you need more information.

Desire Nights at IMMA
To compliment the exhibition IMMA presents a series of three art night events in February – March 2020. We are presenting intimate short programme of screenings; we’ are collaborating with the IFI in showing the Dublin premiere of the film Glue; and we are hosting a night of Art, Fashion and Desire with Richard Malone. Desire Nights at IMMA is proudly supported by Kildare Village. For further information and to book click here.

A significant publication accompanies the exhibition, featuring contributions from the exhibiting artists, co-curators and key contemporary thinkers from a variety of fields, ranging from poetry and philosophy to architecture and performance, including Sasha Bonét, Vaari Claffey, Pádraic E. Moore, Yuko Hasegawa, Johanna Hedva, Jonah King, Aidan Mathews, Eddie Peake, Mario Perniola, Jennie Taylor and Nathalie Weadick. Price €20. Available from the IMMA Shop.

A series of Limited Artist Editions by artists, including Dorothy Cross, Tracey Emin and Genieve Figgis, are available for this exhibition.

The architecture of the exhibition is designed by AP+E.

The Prince of Homburg is co-commissioned by Dundee Contemporary Arts, Scotland, and IMMA. Supported by Arts Council England, Elephant Trust, UK, and Commonwealth & Council Gallery, USA. The work at IMMA is curated by Rachael Gilbourne, Assistant Curator: Exhibitions – Projects & Partnerships, IMMA in collaboration with Eoin Dara, Head of Exhibitions, DCA. Video work produced by Spike Island, UK. Special thanks to producer Ali Roche and Humber Street Gallery, UK.

Special Offer: All Desire: A Revision ticketholders will receive a 10% VIP Card for Kildare Village upon presentation of their Desire ticket at the Tourist Information Centre*

*Saving is applied to the Village price. Terms and Conditions. The invitation is not valid during Further Reduction or ‘Blackout’ periods. Full details of any ‘Blackout’ periods when the VIP Card will not be available will be provided at Tourist Information or at Kildarevillage.com. The invitation may be withdrawn at any time and without notice. The VIP Card is only valid in participating boutiques/restaurants and the provision of the Card is at the sole discretion of the provider. © Kildare Village 2020 01/20