Visitors Flock to Gilbert & George

SCAPEGOATING PICTURES, which is showing across all three galleries in the MAC, is the first time they have exhibited in Northern Ireland in almost 20 years. The artists who spent a few days in Belfast in the lead up to the opening had a chance to see some of what Belfast has to offer.

“We like very much to show here because it is not London, Paris or New York, it’s not a blasé city, art here needs to be about meaning more than with the market, fame or fortune. People wonder what the hell is it, what the hell should I think, and that’s very good for us. We have something to say to this place.”

It is clear too that Gilbert and George love meeting their ‘fans’ with public signings of catalogues and posters specially created for the MAC exhibition resulting in visitors queuing from early morning on the day of the opening.

To meet the demand the artists will be back in Belfast for another public signing at the MAC and a special event at the Merchant Hotel on the 11th April. In partnership with the Royal Academy in London and to celebrate their exhibition SCAPEGOATING PICTURES Gilbert & George will be in conversation with Tim Marlow, Artistic Director of the Royal Academy over afternoon tea at the Merchant.

Áine McVerry acting CEO of the MAC said: “Anyone who knows the work of Gilbert & George knows how it is both provocative and evocative, and the feedback from the thousands of people who have already visited SCAPEGOATING PICTURES certainly reflects this. I know that many of those who have already visited will be encouraging their friends and family to take a trip to the MAC. Previous exhibitions from Andy Warhol and David Hockney have demonstrated how exhibitions of this calibre attract not only local visitors but significant numbers from out of state, boosting the MAC and Belfast reputation as a destination for world-class art. We are already looking forward to their return in April.”

SCAPEGOATING PICTURES is on display in the Sunken, Tall and Upper Galleries at the MAC, Belfast, until the 22 April 2018. The exhibition is open daily from 10am-7pm and admission is free.

Tickets for Gilbert & George in conversation with Tim Marlow over Afternoon Tea at the Merchant Hotel can be bought here.