the barn, clonegal, co. wexford

The Barn, in Clonegal, County Wexford, is a collaboration between the sculptor Ulrich Ruckriem and the builder David Robertson. At the time of its completion at the end of 1988, it was conceived as an edition, w ith identical buildings to be placed in Normandy and Long Island City ; such is the unitary nature of its material and fabrication. It was envisaged as an enclosure to house three works each comprising eight parts in a formal symmetrical arrangement. These were included in the building before completion, as there are only two entrances of human scale in walls over five metres tall. The construction utilises materials and techniques common to agricultural buildings, but the resulting austerity is rich informal device :theoverall light falls from the open square funnel of the roof and from the band of corrugated translucent plastic ; the limestone cement floor radiates the light upwards into the vaulted metal roof ; the interior pebbled courtyard catches and absorbs rainwater from the roof via the two angled downpipes. The most surprising aspect of the project is its cost : at around £70,000 and at a square foot price infinitely smaller than anything that could be expected in the public domain, the Barn presents a model of radical possibility for many areas of activity. Now the building and its contents have been given as as addendum to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, there is more reason not to lose this didactic initiative and its independence of insight and resourcefulness in yet another donation.

Erica Van Horn, artist, photographer and publisher. The text and photographs are extracted from Utility Building, Little Critic pamphlet 6, published by Coracle (Ballybeg, Grange, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary) in 1991.

The above text was written shortly after the completion of the Barn in the late 1980s. In the intervening ten years the Barn and its contents have become shrouded in mystery. Its present status is unclear. It is no longer an addendum to the Irish Museum of Modern Art, their knowledge of it is sketchy : when asked about it they merely said that it is in a state of slight disrepair. They suggested talking to John Hutchinson of the Douglas Hyde Gallery, he was, however, unable to shed further light on the matter.

It was Anya von Gösseln who first introduced Ruckriem to Ireland and to David Robertson, thus allowing this project to happen. It has fallen to von Gbssein, a private gallery owner, to look after the upkeep of the barn, and to organize visits to it.

It is unfortunate that such a unique piece of art and architecture, originally a gift to the state, should now solely rely on the passion and goodwill of a private individual to make it accessible to the public.

Eoin Kingston and Dominic Stevens

The barn may be visited by appointmeny. Ring Anya von Gösseln Tel 054 76505 or contact her at [email protected]