ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Exhibition at Irish Museum of Modern Art Reconsiders Decolonization Through Art After World War I

exhibition · 2026-04-20

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Irish Free State's establishment in 1922, the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin is showcasing 'Self-Determination: A Global Perspective.' This exhibition examines the repercussions of colonialism, connecting Ireland’s past to international movements that emerged after World War I. It includes over 200 pieces from the 1920s and 1930s, mainly from European countries, with some contributions from Turkey and Egypt. The exhibition features thematic groups like 'The Builders' and segments such as 'Dividing Lines,' which address nation-building and trauma. Contemporary artists challenge nationalism and the marginalization of women, while Iz Öztat’s work alludes to global displacements. The show will be open until April 21, presenting a critical view of the uneven effects of self-determination.

Key facts

  • Exhibition marks 100 years since the Irish Free State's 1922 founding
  • Over 200 works from the 1920s-1930s and contemporary pieces
  • Includes artists from Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, Turkey, and Egypt
  • Thematic clusters cover monuments, industry, print, language, and education
  • Contemporary works by Niamh McCann, Array Collective, and Iz Öztat
  • Highlights violence and trauma in sections 'Dividing Lines' and 'Out of the Ruins'
  • Runs at Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, through April 21
  • Focuses on decolonization aftermaths post-World War I empire dissolutions

Entities

Artists

  • Onufriy Biziukov
  • Kuno Veeber
  • Tone Kralj
  • Antonina Ivanova
  • Niamh McCann
  • Iz Öztat
  • Mahmoud Mokhtar
  • Michael Collins
  • Zişan

Institutions

  • Irish Museum of Modern Art
  • Irish Free State
  • Soviet Union
  • Turkish Republic
  • State of Israel
  • Magdalene asylums
  • Array Collective

Locations

  • Dublin
  • Ireland
  • Finland
  • Estonia
  • Latvia
  • Poland
  • Ukraine
  • Turkey
  • Egypt
  • Slovenia
  • Istanbul
  • Middle East
  • Europe
  • UK
  • Austro-Hungarian Empire
  • German Empire
  • Ottoman Empire
  • Russian Empire

Sources