When Daniel Birnbaum was announced as Curator of the 53rd International Art Exhibition in April 2008, he asked "How does one steer clear of the hierarchies dictated by commercial interests and fashion?" This resonated with decisions that had already been taken in the selection of the artists to represent Ireland at the 53rd Venice Biennale. Birnbaum also suggested looking beyond the museums and art fairs, but can we go further than this? Can we go beyond hierarchies that an 'art world' appropriates to itself?

The Venice Biennale is a unique event; a multinational event with a multiplicity of artists. It is significant at this point in time that an entity as prestigious as The Venice Biennale would seek to look at things from a fresh perspective and see it as essential to create space for a multiplicity of art worlds.

Ireland's presentation at the 53rd International Art Exhibition seeks to foreground two artists (but three practices) who operate without commercial gallery representation. The engagement of / with people forms a central element of their practice, and art is at the core. The technically accomplished and visually engaging artworks they produce exist as the gravitational centre for explorations around identity, labour, craft, design, globalisation, economics, language, architecture, beauty, money, value and being human. As a consequence their work operates both within and beyond the traditional ideas an art world affords itself.

Caoimhín Corrigan, Commissioner/Curator