Ireland, Design and Visual Culture: Negotiating Modernity, 1922-1992

Abstract

As Ireland is noted primarily for its literary, dramatic and musical culture, Irish studies, until now, has focused largely on these specific aspects of Irish culture. Consequently, the paucity of texts discussing design, visual and material culture in Ireland—and their role in the construction of the post-partition state’s evolving identity, society and culture—has left a yawning gap in the literature of these fields. In their opening chapter, which introduces us to the editorial theme and theoretical framework underpinning this collection, editors Linda King and Elaine Sisson provide us with clearly elucidated reasons as to why Ireland may have foundered in comparison to other countries in terms of both the development of design as an industry and the simultaneous growth of its associated discourses and literature. They point out that due to the destabilising effect of the political, economic and social upheaval that Ireland underwent during the period of time that the book covers (1922–1992), professional design practice in Ireland has ‘a relatively short history’. Indeed, it could be argued that it is this suite of contributory factors that gave rise to the fact that this publication is both the first of its kind—and long overdue.

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