Temple Bar Gallery and Studios presents 'An Artwork for an Imperfect World', a conceptual art strategy by Mick O' Kelly. The artist will site an artwork (a customised van) capable of serving food to people suffering homelessness in the space of Temple Bar Gallery for a period of two weeks. The provision of hospitality to the homeless will be provided each evening from 7pm - 9pm.

'An Artwork for an Imperfect World' is an ambitious and innovative project that challenges contemporary art practice by posing compelling questions about the nature and potential of an artwork. For the period of its exhibition the artwork will serve a variety of functions all addressing and engaging with the subject of homelessness. The artwork resists notions of representation but rather directly integrates art and societal issues. The work becomes a catalyst for the discourse that is central to Mick O'Kelly's artistic strategies. The gallery space will temporarily extend its purpose to become an altered territory where the nature of citizenship will be examined.

While there is a visual sculptural element to this work, its status as an artwork will be defined by a multiplicity of contexts.

"Different models of art production define and determine the relationship between content and form. I'm engaging with a conceptual performative model. The 'idea' does not transform like signifier and signified. The art object or art as object as vehicle will exchange value depending on site and public understanding of social space." (Mick O'Kelly 2002)

Temple Bar Gallery have worked closely with project partners Merchants Quay Ireland, a non-governmental organisation, to ensure an active participation in the project and to endeavour to provide expected standards of discretion and sensitivity in its operation. At the close of the exhibition the artwork will pass to Merchants Quay Ireland for continued use as part of its outreach programme. Temple Bar Gallery and Studios have collaborated with City Arts Centre in organising a series of roundtable discussions with organisations and individuals engaged with the issues ahead of the project. The project has been prefaced with lectures by Dennis Adams, Edward Soja, and Marjetica Potrc.

As a parallel to 'An Artwork for an Imperfect World' there will be a talk by San Francisco based film maker Rob Nilsson on his work with the Tenderloin Group, an acting workshop for homeless, inner city residents and professional actors now in its eleventh year.

This project is supported by the Arts Council through its Special Projects Funding Category.