Residency Award Announcement

Cork County Council in association with Centre Culturel Irlandais (the Irish Cultural Centre), Paris has selected sculptor Alex Pentek for an Artist Residency Award. The award provides an unrivalled opportunity for an artist from County Cork to stay and work for one month at the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.

The Centre Culturel Irlandais (CCI) is Ireland's flagship cultural centre in Europe. Located in the historic building of the Irish College in the centre of Paris, the Centre presents the work of contemporary Irish artists, reinforces the rich heritage of Franco-Irish relations and fosters a vibrant and creative resident artistic community.

Artists in residence have been an integral part of the CCI programme since the Centre was established in 2002. Through the residencies and a diverse cultural events programme, the CCI showcases Ireland's dynamic contemporary culture on an international stage.

Welcoming the selection of Alex Pentek as the first recipient of this new award, the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan said, “Alex is one of the county’s foremost artists and we are delighted that he has received this inaugural award. As a sculptor he has created extraordinarily beautiful public artworks both in Ireland and internationally. His sculpture Kindred Spirits in Midleton is a very special work that has captured public imagination. This award is richly deserved, and we look forward to seeing the results of his work at the Irish Cultural Centre.”

Alex Pentek is currently completing studies for an MFA in Art in the Contemporary World at NCAD and is also an artist in residence on the Design Thinking Course at UCC. While at the CCI Alex plans to spend time working on an original origami installation that explores themes of interconnectedness and public space as a site for critical inquiry. Alex has for many years used origami derived techniques in his work. He says that that his time at CCI will allow him the opportunity “to explore a bold new direction in my work that investigates the idea of the ‘fold’ as a performative act of doing” as well as exploring the metaphysical implications of the fold as proposed by the academic Levi Bryant.

Centre Director Nora Hickey M’Schili said, “This award is jointly funded by CCI and Cork County Council and we are delighted to be working in partnership with the local authority. This award is an important acknowledgment of an artist’s professional practice. Participation in the CCI residency programme enables contact with other resident artists and provides an exceptional opportunity for artists from Cork County to extend their international reputation and make connections with artists and agencies based in the French capital.”

Alex Pentek will participate in the Centre’s cultural programme during his stay and Cork County Council Arts Office in conjunction with CCI will arrange to document and present the outcomes of the Alex’s work from his residency.