EVA International is Ireland’s Biennial of Contemporary Art.
EVA leads in the commissioning and curating of contemporary
art by Irish and international artists, culminating in a programme of artistic
encounters, exhibitions, and education projects, that takes place every two
years across venues in Limerick City and beyond. EVA’s vision is ‘To lead in
creating experiences and encounters of world-class contemporary art that
activate Limerick as a place of creative endeavour and cultural destination’.
In 2016 Ireland commemorated the centenary of the 1916
Easter Rising with nationwide events. Taking its title from Constantine
Cavafy’s 1898 poem, ‘Waiting for the Barbarians’ the 2016 edition of EVA
International, Still (the) Barbarians, offered a compelling reflection on
the history and legacy of our colonial past and responded to the 1916 rising.
Curated by Koyo Kouoh, Still (the) Barbarians sought
to investigate “the postcolonial condition of Ireland as a way to articulate
artistic reflections, critical redefinitions, and political transformations”.
Tarrant’s entry for the EVA centenary involved cut outs of
Ireland’s outline and Britain’s outline. In the design, the cut outs were to be mounted on a wall
without a frame or border. The map of Ireland was rotated 180 degrees to “face”
England. Ireland was further away in the image than it actually is
geographically. The county boundaries were to contain the outline profile of
the 16 volunteers that were executed by the British for their part in the 1916
Easter Rising. The piece reflects Ireland’s confidence and independence. It
showed that the Irish people are not intimidated by Britain and are prepared to
confront their once colonial masters over their brutality in holding the
British Empire intact.