Greetings From Ireland by Robyn Lynch

8 Dec 2023-25 Feb 2024

PV 7 Dec 2023, 6-10pm

Credit: Charlie Murray

Overview

NOW Gallery is pleased to present its 2023 Fashion Commission, Greetings From Ireland, by Dublin-born designer Robyn Lynch. The annual commission has cemented a reputation for providing the most exciting names in fashion with a platform to create immersive, cutting-edge installations that give unparalleled insight into their practice.

Open to the public between 8 December 2023 – 25 February 2024, Greetings From Ireland will plunge visitors head first into the bold, playful universe of Robyn Lynch and her eponymous menswear label. A celebration of what it is to be Irish, the exhibition will explore the creative process behind a fashion brand, whilst paying tribute to Lynch’s roots in the humorous style for which her brand has become known. 

A 2023 finalist of the prestigious International Woolmark Prize, Lynch is a designer who embraces contradiction. Her collections look to the past to invigorate the future, paying homage to retro culture whilst being rooted firmly in contemporary silhouettes and processes. By incorporating Irish iconography such as shamrocks and the colour green, she subverts tacky stereotypes into tasteful motifs. 

Housed entirely in a huge bouncy castle-esque inflatable structure within the curved glass walls of NOW Gallery, Greetings From Ireland will explore themes around nostalgia, family, Irish heritage and the freedom of expression from a bygone era before mobile phones and social media were omnipresent. 

Inside the inflatable dome, visitors will explore three areas representing different stages of the creative process. The first room will present the primary research phase, showing the inspiration behind Lynch’s AW19 to AW23 collections in addition to previously unseen behind the scenes moments from the studio and beyond. 

The second room will be a process space, giving people the opportunity to see how 2D structures evolve within the context of form and the body and different materials. The final space will celebrate the community and culture that the brand represents. A short film will depict how Lynch’s practice ties into where she is from, the relationships she has had and the importance of her community.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to virtually ‘try on’ Robyn Lynch garments in an interactive installation. Hosted in partnership with Kepler, the installation will feature motion sensors that pick up on body shapes and movements, allowing them to overlay garments onto guests. 

 NOW Gallery curator Jemima Burrill says, “For our 2023 Fashion Commission, we were looking for stories and process and how the two intermingle. Originally inspired by Robyn’s menswear design which combines a low key polish with her wicked sense of humour, it wasn’t until her presentation that we were aware of the careful documentation of her practice through images and video. She has made dozens of films of the people who have helped her along the way, particularly those at the industrial estate where her father works. Footage of the man who leant her first sewing machines. It is the essence of how fashion starts with a strong will and a lot of help. We are really excited to see her fill the gallery with a humorous and also thoughtful, green, white and orange take of what it is to be a fashion designer in 2023.”

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