Civil Rights etc. - Rita Donagh, Richard Hamilton

Civil Rights etc. is the first joint museum exhibition by Rita Donagh and Richard Hamilton. They shared a common concern for the rights of the individual and their work is an investigation into the political motivation and morality of governments and vested interests in the name of justice. This exhibition illuminates the working practices and interdependent influences of these two artists in entirely separate visual languages.

Civil Rights etc. includes Hamilton's work based on the Troubles in Northern Ireland and it is the first time this body of work has been exhibited in Ireland. Hamilton credits his introduction to, and interest in, the Troubles to Rita Donagh—whose Irish ancestry informed her own investigations. While each artist has separate and different readings of the conflict, each offers an artist's critique on the traumas and complexities that are presented.

We were privileged to have had so much support from Richard and Rita in making this exhibition, to the extent of Richard making a new Swingeing London work for the exhibition, Release relief, 2011, which was completed just days before he passed away.

The conflict in Northern Ireland is an integral part of Irish 20th and 21st century history and Donagh and Hamilton's visual commentary on the politics and policies will play an invaluable part in our represented history.

Civil Rights etc. also reveals a brilliant and visionary career of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Richard Hamilton died on 12th September 2011.

Civil Rights etc.
Rita Donagh, Richard Hamilton
Kuratorin: Barbara Dawson