- Culture
- 27 Oct 20
Ruth Medjber to mark launch of Twilight Together portrait series with virtual exhibition evening
This show, titled 'Grá agus Solas at the Living Room', will be the first exhibition from The Dean Arts Studio on 39 Harcourt Street - the home of a new collective of artists due to be launched in the coming weeks.
Artist Ruth Medjber spent the first four months of lockdown photographing people in their living rooms, with the resulting portrait series being featured on the cover of the Irish Times, CNN and is set to be published by Penguin in the form of a beautiful hardback book: Twilight Together.
The book includes over 150 portraits of people through their windows, taken all across Ireland. During lockdown, Medjber captured the living rooms of Irish castles, caravans, one-bedroom apartments, houseboats, old homes and new settings with people of every race, creed, profession and personality.
The documentation of Ireland's 'Stay at Home' period will be marked with a livestream event, a virtual celebration from 'The Living Room' gallery space (created by Ruth for this event) on November 5th.
To mark the launch of the book and exhibition, Ruth will read passages from Twilight Together and will briefly introduce the audience to the Living Room space.
Joining Ruth on the night will be special guests, musicians Paul Noonan (Bell X1) and Sinead White, and poet, Stephen James Smith, all of whom have been photographed by Medjber during lockdown.
Stephen James Smith will recite his poem, Collectively Counting and Sinead White will perform her song, 'The World Stops Spinning', both of which feature in Medjber’s book.
“The broadcast will be a beautiful ensemble of arts and culture in 2020," Medjber says.
"It will be a positive show of our resilience and a testament to how Irish artists will always continue to
reate and transform our work even under the most difficult circumstances. It’ll be a chance for people at home to feel involved with the arts in Ireland. A chance to join our living room without having to leave theirs.
"I feel that it’s important to share the Living Room as a platform with other artists, poets, musicians, friends, who have had their livelihoods impeded by Covid-19 and give them an opportunity to reach the new audiences that they would have found through touring and festivals in 2020.”
As the event will be streamed live on YouTube and social media platforms, Medjber will be encouraging the audience to ask questions and respond to the performances throughout, it’ll be an interactive and socially inclusive evening.
On Nov 5th my book will be launched with a spectacular celebration of Irish Arts and Culture. Feat poetry and music from: @paulisanoonan @SJSwords @sineadwhite_ and more! ⚡️🏡♥️🌙📚Join us in The Living Room from 7pm (links to follow)! x #TwilightTogether pic.twitter.com/RNF5ec7Htf
— Ruth Medjber 📸⚡ (@ruthlessimagery) October 27, 2020
