Join us for an illustrated talk as part of the Basic Talks programme.
Join us for a talk with Vanessa Daws – a long distance swimmer and visual artist, who explores place and swimming in her art practice. ‘Place’ being the watery space that is navigated and swam through and the social space created by this shared activity.
Working with curator Rosie Hermon, Vanessa’s current project ‘Swimming a Long Way Together’ draws its inspiration from the 20th century pioneer swimmer Mercedes Gleitze as part of its wider celebration of swimming and swimming communities, and has created a series of large-scale art events and exhibitions in Ireland, Northern Ireland and England.
Past projects have taken Vanessa to swim in the frozen Pirita River in Estonia; the Rideau Canal in Canada; various city fountains; the Pacific Ocean; the River Liffey; the M50 Aqueduct; and the Bogs of Ballycroy.
Vanessa was the recipient of the Arts Council of Ireland Open Call Award 2020. In co-production with Fabrica in Brighton, Vanessa received Heritage Lottery Funding, UK for her exhibition ‘At Home in the Water’ 2022. Vanessa was an artist in resident at the Fire Station Artist Studios, 2018 – 2021.
Free, book or come on the day subject to availability.
Basic Talks is a series of talks with leading contemporary practitioners, taking place at the Hugh Lane Gallery. Curated by Basic Space in partnership with Hugh Lane Gallery, BASIC TALKS is a platform for lectures, workshops, presentations, and performances. Speakers include artists, curators, writers, and critics who will generate discourse on producing, framing and exhibiting art. BASIC TALKS is a collaboration between Basic Space and the Hugh Lane Gallery, exploring alternatives in the dissemination of contemporary art and its discourses.
