This display of works from the Collection explores the many languages of 20th- century abstraction. The clear shift away from conventional representation to more abstract forms of expression is one of the hallmarks of that period and the exhibition presents some of the most exciting and varied manifestations of that unfolding movement. Abstraction challenged the old dependence on narrative and called attention to art processes and materials leading to a new concentration on colour, space, light, form and gesture. These qualities are fully exploited to different but complementary ends in three paintings by Sean Scully. The exhibition will also draw on recent acquisitions by Damien Hirst, Peter Halley and Anish Kapoor, and works by earlier pioneers of abstraction such as Ad Reinhardt and Mainie Jellett. Chung Eun Mo’s installation ‘Parallel Windows’, 1993, created for the spaces at IMMA will also be shown.

An exhibition guide accompanies the exhibition (price €3.00).