Dublin Contemporary 2011 at the RHA

Born in Co Roscommon in 1941, James Coleman is recognised internationally as one of the most important and pioneering contemporary artists since the late 1960s. Over the last 40 years, Coleman’s work has transformed our understanding of the image in the visual arts, and influenced an entire generation of artists.
For Dublin Contemporary 2011, James Coleman’s video installation 2004-11, a work in progress, evolves around an interpretation of a classical drama, the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Presented on a large LED screen, the work offers a reflection on the image and on communication in contemporary society.
Since the 1970s, Coleman has exhibited extensively in Ireland and internationally, including ROSC, 1977, 1988, ROSC Cork, 1980, Franklin Furnace, New York, 1981, Whitechapel Gallery, London, 1983, Renaissance Society, Chicago, 1985, Dunguaire Castle, Galway, 1985, the Dia Center for the Arts, New York, 1994-95, Kunstmuseum Luzern, Lucerne, 1995, Centre Georges Pompidou, Musée national d’art moderne, Paris, 1996, Fundació Antoni Tàpies, Barcelona, 1999, Lenbachhaus-Kunstbau Städtische Galerie, Munich, 2002, Sprengel Museum, Hannover, 2002, project for the exhibition Léonard de Vinci: dessins et manuscrits, Louvre, Paris, 2003, Museu do Chiado, Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea, Lisbon, 2004-05, and IMMA, Project Arts Centre, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, 2009. Coleman has also participated in many significant international group exhibitions including the Venice Biennale, 1968 and Documenta 2002 & 2007.