TULCA 2018

Syntonic State
Curated by Linda Shevlin
2-18 November 2018
Galway, Ireland

Syntonic State was the title of the 16th edition of the TULCA Festival of Visual Arts, which took place in Galway from 2 -18 November 2018. It featured over 20 artists through a mix of new commissions, existing and never-before-seen work, performances, talks, and events. Some of Ireland’s most exciting artists were joined by international artists Cyprien Gaillard and 2008 Turner Prize-winner Mark Leckey.

The exhibition took dual cues from Galway’s merchant and mariner histories, and from the concept of nostalgia, with its cultural links to revelry and hedonism. The comfort people take in looking to the past - particularly during times of political and social crisis - formed the premise for multiple artistic responses. TULCA 2018 took its title from the psychology term to be ‘culturally syntonic’, meaning to be in harmony with one’s environment. Living in a time of mass migration and displacement, the search for a ‘syntonic state’ became a provocation that explored nostalgia in popular culture, its use as a political device to incite fear and anger, and the ways in which people struggle to find their place in the world.

Syntonic State assembled, converged, and appeared across the city and county with the conviction that art in urban spaces could activate historical, architectural, societal, political, and aesthetic contexts. TULCA presented a diverse array of these artistic responses aimed at recontextualising history as a vehicle for understanding the present moment.

Syntonic State featured artworks by Irish and international artists, presented across multiple venues throughout the city, including: TULCA Festival Gallery at Fairgreen House, Galway Arts Centre, 126 Artist-run Gallery, NUIG Gallery, Columban Hall, Electric Galway, and Sheridans.

TULCA 2018 was supported by the Arts Council, Galway City Council and Galway County Council.

Documentation: Jonathan Sammon