National Museum of Ireland Announces 2019 Exhibitions

Internationally renowned glass artist Alison Lowry will present '(A)Dressing Our Hidden Truths' at the Museum of Decorative Arts and History. Launching next week, the exhibition is a response to dark and shameful parts of Ireland's history: the Magdalene Laundries, Mother and Baby Homes, Industrial Schools and Rape Culture. A unique voice in the world of European glass artists, Alison Lowry frequently tackles difficult political topics and issues of domestic abuse. Lowry's haunting and thoughtful exhibition also features collaborations with performance artist Jayne Cherry and designer Úna Burke. 

Opening on May 17th, the Museum of Decorative Arts and History will also be exhibiting Henri Cartier-Bresson's photographs of Ireland. Considered by many to be the world's greatest photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson was a renowned photographic innovator, pioneering candid street photography. His photographs of Ireland, taken during his trips here in 1952 and 1962, have been little known and little seen before now. The exhibition will feature a collection of these never before seen images, alongside notes, letters and other artifacts from the legendary photographer.

Other 2019 exhibitions include 'Marching on the Road to Freedom: Dáil Éireann 1919', comemorating the 100th anniversary of the first meeting of Dáil Éireann, at the Museum of Decorative Arts and History; 'Kitchen Power', at the Museum of Country Life, tackles rural women's experiences with the introduction of electrification. On their vision for the 2019 slate of exhibitions Museum Director Lynn Scarf said: "At the National Museum of Ireland, our role is to preserve and present the stories of Ireland and its place in the world and it is with that in mind that we have designed our programme of activities for 2019. We have a rich and varied programme of events planned for the year, with a view to engaging, entertaining and educating as many audiences and communities as possible, old and new."

For more information about all the happenings at the National Museum of Ireland, visit their website.