The aim of switch is to promote
and show contemporary video art in a
public context, provide an alternative
way to navigate a familiar place and
create possibilities for a ‘happened
upon’ encounter.

switch is
8 contemporary video/film works
from 8 international artists using
8 vacant spaces, formerly shop
windows, in a town centre.
a temporary art event that takes
place in winter and runs daily
from 5pm to 11pm for one week.

switch came to life in 2008 in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary and began as a ground up approach to showing contemporary works of moving image in a small town in rural Ireland.

The switch project is a continuing investigation into place locating art in public space in a contextually focused way. International film and video artworks are back-projected for one week onto the windows of shops and other spaces throughout the town.

switch locates itself outside of the big city and applies itself to the rhythm of smaller places.

The events initiate conversations between artists and audiences, artworks and their sites. switch fosters a dialogue between diverse positions.

It is an artist led project by Triona Ryan & Harald Turek. To date 23 international artists have through the event invited the public into their practice, ideas and interpretations of themes.

switch to date, is an event, a project, and a book.

The book archives the first three years of switch and frames the fourth switch project, it presents images from and responses to the fleet of 23 artworks projected to date. It also documents the walking tours that now accompany each annual event. In addition there are insightful critical reflections on both the work and the questions generated whilst engaging in such a way in public space.