Renowned artist set to launch new cultural initiative in Lisburn

R-Space @ The Linen Rooms, Lisburn founded by co-directors Anthea McWilliams and Robert Martin, is due to open at 32-36 Castle Street on Saturday July 30, with phase one a one-woman show by international artist Anna Dumitriu. The other two phases include the new gallery and exhibiting space, whilst phase three will launch The Linen Rooms, Lisburn - six Georgian style en-suite guest rooms, a courtyard café and artists studios, all centred around a bustling courtyard, celebrating culture, crafts and the arts.

Renowned interest Anna was recently in Lisburn for a preview of the gallery before the official opening. She commented: “The Lisburn Museum and Linen Centre was an amazing place to visit. I really enjoyed learning to spin flax and watching the weavers at work on the antique looms. It was a perfect complement to the visit I made to McConville’s Flax Mill and Museum in Dromore, where we saw beautiful flax flowers in full bloom.

“These experiences will inspire the new artwork I am creating in collaboration with Alex May called ‘The Art and Science of Linen’ which will be exhibited at the new R-Space Gallery in Castle Street, Lisburn.

Anna’s ‘Normal Flora’ is a major new solo show to come to the city. It blurs the boundaries between art, textile crafts and science and celebrates August Craft Month in Lisburn. Robert Martin, R-Space Co-Director, has a vision to deliver ground breaking contemporary arts and crafts into Lisburn and Northern Ireland. He explained: “Dumitriu’s work uses a range of digital, biological and traditional media including live bacteria, projections and textiles. Her work has a strong international profile and is held in several major public collections, including the Science Museum in London and she is Leverhulme Artist in Residence on the Modernising Medical Microbiology Project at The University of Oxford. With an exciting programme of exhibitions and events, R-Space wants to engage and connect with the community, as well as other cultural venues, to ensure the City of Lisburn attracts local, national and international audiences’.

‘Anna Dumitriu: Normal Flora’ opens at R-Space @ The Linen Rooms Lisburn on Saturday July 30 and runs until September 17 (Wednesdays – Saturdays, 11am – 5pm).

‘Anna Dumitriu: Normal Flora’ has been kindly supported by Lisburn City Council.

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