Alan Phelan

b. 1968, Ireland

Dear Zdenka
You are probably almost finished your selection for ev+a by now and I know this is quite late getting to you. Apologies. I had an idea for a proposal but actually fell sick with flu over the last week, and as I went off-colour so did my initial concept. Nevertheless, suddenly, as I recover, it seems like something that may actually be useful to you and so I am sending you this short proposal. The idea came to me after attending some talks at last year’s ev+a. Many issues surrounding the exhibition were discussed in a two-day informal session. One of the things I had noted was how the interpretative devices used for the show always seemed quite poor during the exhibition. The catalogue is normally published towards the end of the exhibition, and in the meantime there is not a lot that comes between the viewers and the art. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
My idea was to write interpretative text panels for all the exhibition spaces in ev+a. They could be written in conjunction with the curator, but I would prefer it to be a commentary on their selection rather than a collaborative initiative. The texts would be short, pithy and not entirely descriptive. Rather than explain everything, they would add an additional narrative to the selection (while also guiding viewers towards thinking about the work on display). The writing would need to be done in the two weeks running up to the opening of the show so that the panels could quickly go through graphic design production and installation.
Regarding my experience, I have exhibited in Limerick City Gallery several times, as part of ev+a and also with a solo exhibition in 2000. I write a regular column for the SSI Visual Artists Newsletter and am a member of AICA. I have also visited Slovenia recently and there should have been a twist to this proposal but it didn’t happen due to this damn flu. Hope you have time to consider this and that we get a chance to discuss this further.
Best regards,
Alan Phelan

(Text: imagine limerick catalogue, 2004)