16 February 2001

The Drummer by Barry Flanagan at the Irish Museum of Modern Art

One of the Irish Museum of Modern Art's newest acquisitions, 'The Drummer' by Barry Flanagan, will be unveiled in the grounds at IMMA on Thursday 22 February 2001. The work - a 15ft-high bronze sculpture of a lively drumming hare - has been donated to the Museum by the artist and is situated outside the main entrance.

'The Drummer' characterises Barry Flanagan's series of hare sculptures which have formed a large part of his work from the early 1980s to the present day. Flanagan's hares are spectacular in size and convey an extraordinary spontaneity and naturalness. There is nothing repetitive in his use of a single theme; each hare is extremely individualistic and dynamic. Many portray human attributes - dancing, playing instruments, engaging in sports and even using technical equipment. In addition to his emblematic hare sculptures, Flanagan's work also includes ceramic pieces, abstract sculptures, drawings in ink and pencil, water-colours and collages on paper in a wide range of subject matter including life studies, animals and abstract shapes.

Born in Prestatyn, North Wales, in 1941, Barry Flanagan studied at St Martin's School of Art, London, later teaching there and at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London. He has exhibited in numerous one-person and group exhibitions worldwide and his work is held in notable public collections, which include the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Tate Gallery in London. In 1982 he represented Britian in the Venice Biennale and in 1993 a major retrospective of his work was held at the Fundacion 'La Caixa', Madrid. His bronze hares have also been exhibited in many outdoor spaces, most notably on Park Avenue, New York, in 1995-96 and at Grant Park, Chicago, in 1996. He lives and works in Dublin and London.

'The Drummer' is one of a number of artworks from IMMA's Collection which will be shown outside the main Museum buildings throughout 2001.