Sir, - I have just come from an exhibition of the work of some Irish artists currently showing at Boston College. The college is a Jesuit institution and some years ago it also hosted an exhibition of Irish women artists. Frankly, this exhibition is appallingly bad. This is not just my opinion; anyone I have talked to cannot believe that this is supposed to be Ireland's best! When a piece of art is dull, often extremely ugly and out to shock, then of course it requires a long spiel of pseudo-philosophy to justify itself. There is plenty of this at the exhibition: each piece has its political statement beside it.
There are the gender issues; the usual dig at the Catholic Church in the search for a new spirituality (an absolutely hideous piece by some feminist); and a flaunting of modernity in ousting the old Irish culture. The piece making the most explicit sexual statement is the gay man replete with condom and his alter ego pointing to his heart and genitalia in a begging gesture to be understood. Quite pornographic, and in very bad taste! Surprisingly, it was the only picture that showed some genuine talent!
This exhibition is the same old tired abstract expressionism that has been around now for decades. The only way it can capture our attention is to become more and more outrageous and vulgar. Surely the Irish can do better than this; why must they imitate the worst work of their neighbours to the east? - Yours, etc.,
R. Stynes Strow, Burt Road, Wilmington, Massachusetts, USA.