Renowned artists showcase artistic dualities in ‘All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun’ exhibition, Dublin Castle

The Office of Public Works is delighted to announce the opening of the ‘All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun’ exhibition in the Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle on 14 February 2025. This must see exhibition brings together a top line-up of Irish and international artists working across painting, sculpture and video to explore how artistic dualities coexist, interact, and ultimately rely on one another.

One of the highlights of the exhibition is an extraordinary discovery—a self-portrait by the renowned poet, novelist, and artist Christy Brown, which has never been publicly displayed. The painting, long thought to be lost, recently came to light and is depicted in a well-known photograph of Brown at work in his studio. This deeply personal glimpse into Brown’s life and practice offers visitors a unique opportunity to connect with Ireland’s cultural heritage.

Curated by artists Paul Hallahan and Lee Welch, the exhibition draws inspiration from the layered contrasts found in the works of Flann O’Brien—rural versus urban, reality versus imagination, and seriousness versus humour. The exhibition delves into the nuanced interplay of dualities shaping both art and life.

The exhibition takes its title from an unreleased song by the late Jeff Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser, All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun, symbolizing growth, transformation, and interconnectedness. Through diverse practices, the exhibition creates a space for viewers to reflect on the beauty and complexity of existence.

Through these diverse practices, the exhibition creates a space for viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of opposites, underscoring that the most profound truths often lie in their tension. As the title suggests, these forces are not static; they lean towards one another, like flowers bending towards the sun, illustrating the beauty and complexity of existence.

‘All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun’ exhibition at Dublin Castle runs from Monday to Sunday, 10.00 – 17.00 (closed for lunch from 13.15-13.45).

OPW spokespersons are available for interview upon request.

Please contact pressoffice@opw.ie for more information and to arrange an interview.

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Listing information

• exhibition title: All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun
• location: Coach House Gallery, Dublin Castle
• dates 14 February – 11 May 2025
• opening times: Monday to Sunday 10:00-17:00 (closed for lunch from 13.15-13.45)
• admission: Free

Artists featured

The exhibition presents work from an exceptional group of artists whose practices embody the central theme of duality:

• Nina Canell (SE)
• Elizabeth Peyton (USA)
• Lauren Conway (IRL)
• Christy Brown (IRL)
• Aleana Egan (IRL)
• Genieve Figgis (IRL)
• Paul Hallahan (IRL)
• Samir Mahmood (PAK/IRL)
• Maria Maarbjerg (DEN/IRL)
• William McKeown (NI)
• Mairead O’hEocha (IRL)
• Adrian O’Carroll (IRL)
• Linda Quinlan (IRL)
• Eva Rothschild (IRL/UK)
• Anne Tallentire (NI)
• Luke van Gelderen (IRL)
• Marcel Vidal (IRL)
• Lee Welch (IRL/USA)
• Michael Warren (IRL)

Curatorial statement

"With All Flowers in Time Bend Towards the Sun, we aim to celebrate the intricate tensions between opposing forces—those that define our experiences, both as creators and as humans. Inspired by Flann O’Brien’s ability to seamlessly weave humour with tragedy, the real with the imagined, we’ve gathered artists who mirror this sensibility in their work.

The title of the exhibition encapsulates these themes beautifully. Borrowed from Jeff Buckley and Elizabeth Fraser’s unreleased song, it suggests an inevitability to life’s dualities—light and shadow, growth and decay, individuality and connection. These dualities, far from being separate, lean towards each other in a dance of mutual dependence, like flowers instinctively turning towards the sun. It is in this bending, this reaching, that meaning and beauty arise."

— Paul Hallahan & Lee Welch

Key highlights

A Rediscovered important painting: Christy Brown’s self-portrait, shown publicly for the first time, offers a rare and moving insight into the iconic artist’s inner world.

A Meditation on Duality: The show is rooted in the idea that oppositions—rural/urban, reality/imagination, seriousness/humour—are not merely opposites but deeply interconnected forces.

Top Artist Line-Up: Features renowned Irish and international artists, including Elizabeth Peyton, Eva Rothschild, and Genieve Figgis, alongside emerging and established names in contemporary art.

Multimedia Approach: The exhibition spans a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, video, providing a rich and immersive experience.

Irish Literary Influence: Inspired by Flann O’Brien’s explorations of human complexity, the exhibition highlights Ireland’s cultural heritage as a source of artistic innovation.