Before I Go. Vanishing Dublin: Gerard Byrne Gallery | Trinity St, Dublin
Officially launched by art historian and author, Kathryn Milligan, Before I Go. Vanishing Dublin gathers fifty uniquely Dublin cityscapes by Gerard Byrne — Georgian terraces, Victorian facades, charming pubs, and beloved pockets of verdure that continue to define his practice. Canal locks, iconic rooftops and reminders of Baile Átha Cliath’s architectural heritage.
In turbulent and uncertain times, beauty can feel fragile. Cities change quickly, and what once seemed permanent can disappear almost overnight. For Byrne, this is precisely why he works en plein air, placing himself directly before his subjects, capturing architecture and atmosphere in equal measure,
Dublin exists in the particular: in this rain, this red brick, this pint. Specificity makes a place. You can’t build heritage. You can only inherit it, tend to it, or betray it.
In this, Byrne continues the work of Harry Kernoff and Flora Mitchell, exemplified in her book Vanishing Dublin (1966). Sixty years on, he faces the same conviction that what is not recorded is lost forever. Byrne captures these urbanscapes to insist they matter. To say: I saw you. You were beautiful. And before I go, before you go, I'll make sure someone remembers.
“Using oils and charcoal, Gerard Byrne leaves us with his impressions of the city in recent times. He sees the vibrant red of Dublin’s brickwork, unexpected views of landmark buildings, and often overlooked details of the buildings he has observed. Balconies, railings and fanlights all catch his attention and in doing so the skills of past craftspeople form essential elements of his work.”
— Donough Cahill, Executive Director, Irish Georgian Society
EVENTS:
Meet the Artist & Books Signing
28 – 29 March [Sat & Sun]
25 – 26 April [Sat & Sun]
Gerard Byrne | Publications:
Turning Corners, 2022 | Spirit of Place, 2024 | Charcoalogy, 2023
Panel Discussion
16 April [Thursday] @ 6.30pm
Panellists:
Donough Cahill
Executive Director Irish Georgian Society
Dr Daryl Hendley Rooney
Historian and Curator The Little Museum of Dublin
Arran Henderson
Local Historian, Art enthusiast and owner of Dublin Decoded Art and Architecture Tours
Moderator:
Donal Fallon
Social Historian to Dublin City Council Culture Company, Author of The Dublin Pub: A Social and Cultural History and 'Three Castles Burning' podcast presenter
More details about the events to follow shortly.
If you wish to register your interest, please get in touch via email: hello@gerardbyrneartist.com
* All events | Free Admission
