Kendall Warson

Building Cohart ✨

Opening August 29 in Limerick, the 41st EVA International—Ireland's Biennial of Contemporary Art—embraces an unconventional curatorial philosophy with "It Takes a Village," a program spanning venues from traditional galleries to fishmongers and family homes.


Curated by Eszter Szakács in collaboration with the EVA team, the program "prioritises ways of working with artists and partnerships to develop new projects and restaged presentations, attuned to the local social, political, and infrastructural context of regional Ireland".


The participating roster reflects this community-centered approach: artists include Reza Afisina, Marwa Arsanios, Naeem Mohaiemen, and Eoghan Ryan, alongside collective projects like Family Connection and damdam (a collective of collectives). The biennial will present new commissions by Yazan Khalili, Mohaiemen, Ciarán Ó Dochartaigh, and Ryan, as well as a major presentation by Ana Bravo-Pérez.


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What makes EVA International particularly relevant for today's art ecosystem is its rejection of the traditional biennial model. Rather than imposing international curatorial vision onto local infrastructure, "It Takes a Village" recognizes that artworks are "material expressions of visible and invisible ecosystems that connect people, beings, entities, and organisational structures".


The program includes partnerships with OFF-Biennale Budapest and features presentations in Sadlier's Fishmongers alongside more conventional venues like Limerick City Gallery of Art. This distributed approach mirrors how platforms like Cohart are democratizing art access by connecting artists directly with collectors across diverse communities.


As one of the world's oldest biennials, having begun in 1977, EVA International's evolution toward community partnership offers a model for how established institutions can adapt to contemporary values of collaboration and accessibility.


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For artists and galleries exploring new models of engagement, EVA International's "village" approach demonstrates that the most compelling art experiences often emerge when traditional hierarchies give way to genuine community partnerships.


**Running through October 26, 2025, the biennial includes artist talks, performances, and an opening afterparty collaboration with DYKE NITE x The Breeding Room.**


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Ireland's 41st EVA International reimagines collaboration across fishmongers, family homes, and international partnerships


Community as Catalyst: EVA International's Radical Approach to Biennial Culture

Community as Catalyst: EVA International's Radical Approach to Biennial Culture

Building Cohart ✨

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