CHAC MOOL BY SEBASTIAN

18/07/2023

CHAC MOOL BY SEBASTIAN [NEAR THE LINCOLN GATE ENTRANCE TO TRINITY COLLEGE]

I must admit that I like this ... well I like anything that is painted blue. Formally unveiled by Provost Patrick Prendergast and H.E. Ambassador Carlos García de Alba in the presence of the artist on the 18th of September 2015 to mark 40 years of Mexican-Irish Diplomatic Relations

Enrique Carbajal González was born in Chihuahua, Northern Mexico, shortly after the end of the Second World War. The artist adopted the pseudonym ‘Sebastián’ after the painting of the martyred Saint Sebastian by Sandro Botticelli. He is best known for his monumental public sculptures, created using steel or concrete, which can now be seen throughout the world. There are currently four of these sculptures in Ireland, all of which have been generously donated by the artist.

The term Chac Mool refers to a style of ancient Mesoamerican sculpture found in temples and sacred sites throughout Central Mexico. Appearing as a vehicle between man and the gods, it traditionally depicts a reclining figure with its legs bent upwards, resting on its elbows and with its face looking out over its shoulder. This specific type of sculpture was discovered in the 19th century by an archaeologist who named it after the greatest Mayan warrior, Chac Mool. As the artist explains, the colour blue was traditionally used to signify members of the priesthood in ancient frescoes and manuscripts. Although there has been little agreement by historians and anthropologists as to the function or meaning of these ancient sculptures, one interpretation is that they were created to commemorate fallen warriors and allow others to offer gifts to the gods in their memory.

Here on campus, Sebastián’s Chac Mool reinforces a powerful sculptural lineage, associating itself most particularly with Henry Moore’s work entitled Reclining Connected Forms (1969). Moore stated that, from an early stage, he was captivated by Mexican sculpture, particularly by the Chac Mool figure, leading him in 1929 to carve his own Chac Mool in Hornton stone which he later described as one of the key works of his career, from which his renowned reclining figures developed. Sebastián’s turquoise Chac Mool is a vital, contemporary invitation to engage with figure, form, colour and sculpted space within a rich visual arts ancestry.

RECLINING AND CONNECTED FORMS

17/07/2023

Within a week I had the opportunity to photograph two sculptures by Henry Moore. Today I visited Trinity College in Dublin City centre and photographed Reclining And Connected Forms which is a 1969 bronze sculpture Forms. For some strange reason this appears to be ignored by visitors and tourists who photograph everything except this amazing and complex sculpture.

Years ago Henry Moore provided , on loan, a sculpture which became known as 'The King And Queen' and it was located on the Library forecourt but as he was not happy about the location he decided that it should be returned. He had not been happy with the location because he felt that there was a conflict with the forecourt lanterns and because there was not enough sunlight on the north facing forecourt.

The university worked persistently to find a replacement for the King and Queen and eventually proposed the work by Pomodoro which is now permanently installed on the forecourt and which appears to have been made for it. A perfect outcome.

Eventually Trinity obtained another work by Henry Moore, for which a location in Library Square was agreed and where it has remained.

Henry Spencer Moore OM CH FBA (30 July 1898 – 31 August 1986) was an English artist. He is best known for his semi-abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art. As well as sculpture, Moore produced many drawings, including a series depicting Londoners sheltering from the Blitz during the Second World War, along with other graphic works on paper.

His forms are usually abstractions of the human figure, typically depicting mother-and-child or reclining figures. Moore's works are usually suggestive of the female body, apart from a phase in the 1950s when he sculpted family groups. His forms are generally pierced or contain hollow spaces. Many interpreters liken the undulating form of his reclining figures to the landscape and hills of his Yorkshire birthplace.

Moore became well known through his carved marble and larger-scale abstract cast bronze sculptures, and was instrumental in introducing a particular form of modernism to the United Kingdom. His ability in later life to fulfil large-scale commissions made him exceptionally wealthy. Despite this, he lived frugally; most of the money he earned went towards endowing the Henry Moore Foundation, which continues to support education and promotion of the arts.

SAINT KILIAN AND ST KILIAN'S GERMAN SCHOOL

17/07/2023

SAINT KILIAN AND ST KILIAN'S GERMAN SCHOOL[ACCORDING TO GOOGLE'S BARD AI]

This modern statue is located at St Kilian's German School on Roebuck Road in Clonskeagh. 

I am still experimenting with Google Bard and used it to research St Killian but some of the information was somewhat doubtful. For example I could not confirm that the Town Of Killarney [referred to as a city by Bard] is named after St Killian. The Irish for Killarney is Cill Airne meaning the "Church Of Sloes".

Saint Killian [also spelled Cillian or Killian] was a seventh-century Irish missionary who is credited with bringing Christianity to Franconia, a region in what is now Germany. He is also the patron saint of Würzburg, the capital of Bavaria.

Killian was born in Ireland in the early seventh century. He was educated at the monastery of Clonmacnoise, one of the most important centres of learning in Ireland at the time. After his education, Killian traveled to Gaul (modern-day France) to preach the Gospel.

In Gaul, Killian met with some success in converting pagans to Christianity. However, he also made some enemies, including Duke Gosbert of Franconia. Gosbert's wife, Geilana, was a pagan, and she was opposed to Killian's mission.

In 689, Killian and his companions were murdered by Geilana's followers. They were killed in Würzburg, and their bodies were buried in the city.

Killian's death did not end his influence. He was soon venerated as a martyr, and his cult spread throughout Germany. In 742, his relics were exhumed and placed in a new church in Würzburg. The church was dedicated to Killian, and it became a major pilgrimage site.

Killian is remembered as a courageous and dedicated missionary who helped to spread Christianity in Germany. He is also celebrated as a martyr who died for his faith.

In addition to his missionary work, Killian is also known for his contributions to the development of the Church in Germany. He was instrumental in establishing the diocese of Würzburg, and he is credited with introducing the Gregorian chant to the region.

Killian's feast day is celebrated on July 8. He is the patron saint of Würzburg, the diocese of Würzburg, and the city of Killarney in Ireland.

Killian is a significant figure in both Irish and German history. He is remembered as a courageous missionary who helped to spread Christianity in both countries. He is also celebrated as a martyr who died for his faith. Killian's legacy continues to inspire people today.

Here are some additional facts about Saint Killian:

His name means "little champion".

He is often depicted in art with a sword, a symbol of his martyrdom.

He was born in Ireland around the year 640.

He studied under Saint Columban at the monastery of Luxeuil in Gaul.

In 686, he set out for Franconia to preach the Gospel.

He was killed by Geilana, the wife of Duke Gozbert of Thuringia, in 689.

He was canonized in the 9th century.

His feast day is celebrated on July 8.

He is the patron saint of Würzburg, Germany, and missionaries.

St. Kilian's German School in Dublin was founded in the early 1950s, developing from the work of a Dublin charity, the Save the German Children Society, founded in 1945. The school was originally a Sunday school, offering German classes to children who came to Ireland as part of the programme run by the Save the German Children Society.

In 1954, the school was named St. Kilian's and three years later relocated to a site on the Stillorgan Road in Dublin, which could also accommodate a Kindergarten. The school expanded and grew in the following years, and in 1961-2011, it had a delegated Headmaster from Germany and a Deputy Principal supported by the Department of Education in Ireland.

In 1974, the school moved to its current campus in Clonskeagh. In 1976, the school was recognised by the Irish Department of Education and given a roll number. Two years later, the first group of St. Kilian's students sat the Leaving Certificate.

In 1989, the school introduced the Sprachdiplom Exams, a significant step in establishing the higher pedagogical benchmark for the teaching and learning of German in the school. In 1992, St. Kilian's became a member of the European Schools' Association.

Today, St. Kilian's German School is a thriving institution with a student body of over 500 pupils from over 30 different countries. The school offers a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities, and its graduates go on to study at leading universities around the world.

Here are some of the key milestones in the history of St. Kilian's German School:

1952: The school is founded as a Sunday school.

1954: The school is named St. Kilian's.

1957: The school relocates to Stillorgan Road.

1961-2011: The school has a delegated Headmaster from Germany and a Deputy Principal supported by the Department of Education in Ireland.

1974: The school moves to Clonskeagh.

1976: The school is recognised by the Irish Department of Education.

1989: The school introduces the Sprachdiplom Exams.

1992: St. Kilian's becomes a member of the European Schools' Association.

PROCLAMATION BY ROWAN GILLESPIE

17/07/2023

PROCLAMATION BY ROWAN GILLESPIE [DESCRIBED BY SOME AS A STARTLINGLY MORBID METAL SCULPTURE]

I have seen this described as startlingly morbid memorial sculpture located across the street from one of Ireland’s most infamous prisons.

“Proclamation” by Rowan Gillespie is a permanent outdoor sculpture honouring the leaders of the Easter Rising, and the authors of the Irish proclamation of Independence.  It stands solemnly across the street from the notorious Kilmainham Gaol where the proclamation scribes were executed in 1916.

It features abstract and faceless bronze statues standing in a circle around a pillar, the words of their proclamation engraved into the metal. These eerily blindfolded statues each have an execution order or a verdict carved into their base, and their torsos are riddled with holes to represent where they were hit by the firing squad. Each torso has a different bullet pattern, which is one of the only varying characteristics of the figures.

These statues have no names, faces or limbs. They are meant to represent the rebel leaders who were the seven signatories on the Proclamation. There are fourteen figures in total and the other seven were donated to the piece by the artist himself in honour of the total number of executions involving the rising and in memory of his grandfather James Creed Meredith.

Rowan Gillespie is an Irish bronze casting sculptor of international renown. He was born in Dublin in 1953 and spent his formative years in Cyprus. He studied art at York School of Art, Kingston College of Art, and Kunst og Handverke Skole in Oslo. After living and exhibiting in Norway for several years, he returned to Ireland in 1977.

Gillespie is known for his figurative sculptures, which often depict historical or literary figures. His work is characterised by its expressiveness and emotional power. Some of his most famous sculptures include the Famine Memorial (1997), Titanica (2004), and Ripples of Ulysses (2008).

Gillespie is a highly skilled craftsman and works alone in his purpose-built bronze casting foundry. He is unique among bronze casting sculptors in that he does all of the moulding, casting, and finishing himself. This gives his work a distinctively personal touch.

Gillespie's sculptures can be found in public and private collections all over the world. He has received numerous awards for his work, including the Henry Moore Award for Sculpture (1988) and the Edward James Foundation Award (1993).