Dublin, Ireland Project Arts Centre
20
- 24 July 2016
Eileen Gray, who is now regarded as one of the most influential 20th Century designers and architects, defied expectations. From her innovations in modern design to her unconventional personal life, she challenged what it meant to be an artist, to be a woman and to be Irish.
In the world of design, her approach to shapes, lines, textures and colours was visionary, and still continues to inspire designers today. She was renowned for her work in lacquer, steel and glass furniture, and created the iconic Dragon and Bibendum chairs. Her most famous work, E1027, a modernist villa on the Cote d’Azur in France, is widely considered the first work of the modern movement in architecture and design.
This collaboration brought together the multi award-winning team of choreographer David Bolger, director Jim Culleton, musical director Kate Ellis, composer Deirdre Gribbin, writer Gavin Kostick, and designers Maree Kearns, Sinead McKenna, Kevin Gleeson and Val Sherlock.
It premiered at Galway International Arts Festival 2016 in the Black Box Theatre, and was adored by the critics, who described it as “striking” (The Guardian), “passionate, brilliant, visually stunning and pushing the boundaries of the possible” (The Arts Review, 4*) and “extraordinarily stylish” (Sunday Independent). Festival audiences also praised the production, calling it a “beautiful story”, “superb” and "beautifully crafted".
Invitation to a Journey Inspired by Eileen Gray went on to perform at Project Arts Centre in Dublin from 20 - 24 July 2016.