Dublin born and Belfast based designer Alex Synge takes us through the best things to attend, watch, read and listen to this March and he's aiming to keep things balanced."Given that I'm from Dublin but live in Belfast and that March is (possibly...) the month of Brexit and there's talk of Building a Wall, the real-word picks here include things that are North and South of the border." Without further ado...
EVENTS
Sonic Youth: 30 Years of Daydream Nation
2 March, IFI, Dublin
A programme of films marking the 30th anniversary of the release of Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation, presented by Steve Shelley and director Lance Bangs.
The Iconic World of Faber Cover Design
7 March, Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, Derry
Graphic designer and writer Theo Inglis; Eleanor Crow, Senior Designer at Faber & Faber and Donna Payne, Creative Director at Faber & Faber, discuss Faber & Faber's iconic book covers.
New Now Next: Dorte Mandrup
7 March, The Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin
Danish architect Dorte Mandrup
First is the season of talks from the Irish Architecture Foundation. Sou Fujimoto is next up in May.
Cycles
15 March, Mike's Fancy Cheese, Belfast
A multi-course meal of fermented, foraged and found flavours. A collaboration between artist and chef Phillip McCrilly and foraging guide Clare McQuillan.
EXHIBITIONS
Wolfgang Tillmans – Rebuilding the Future
Until 10 March, IMMA, Dublin
Last week to catch this exhibition – Wolfgang Tillmans is always worth a look.
The Body Politic
Chloe Cooper, Rachel Fallon, Núria Güell, Jesse Jones, Eimear Walshe and Emma Wolf-Haugh
Until 14 March 2019, Catalyst Arts, Belfast
Group show responding to the medieval metaphor which likens a nation to one autonomous being.
Arts Council Northern Ireland Collection
Until 16 March, Belfast Exposed, Belfast
A new group exhibition with photographic works selected from Arts Council Northern Ireland Collection, including works by artists Paul Seawright, Donavan Wylie and Peter Richards.
Ronan McCrea – Efference Copy Mechanism
Until 13 April, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios, Dublin
Beautiful, immersive work comprising a complex arrangement of superimposed slide and 16mm film projections.
LISTEN
Dublin Digital Radio
Consistently great station. Particular favourites include Elastic Witch Radio, Ritual, ELLLL and BOO!
God's Waiting Room
Monthly selection of the cinematic, library music, rock 'n' roll, psych, experimental, unclassifiable and independent music, from DJ and producer David Holmes on NTS Radio. Always great.
US Modernist
Brilliant podcast discussing US Modernist architecture. Recent guests have included Dirk Lohan – grandson of Mies van der Rohe, and Irish film producer and writer Ultan Guilfoyle.
Kankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980–1990
Beautiful stuff to listen to while working or walking or driving.
READ
Pops: Fatherhood in Pieces by Michael Chabon
I became a Dad last year and found this a great read recently; insightful, funny and reassuring writings by Michael Chabon on the meaning, magic, and mysteries of fatherhood.
More than concrete blocks: vol. II, 1940–72 by Ellen Rowley
Dublin city's twentieth-century buildings and their stories
Second volume in Ellen's Rowley's invaluable three-volume series on twentieth-century Irish architecture. Designed by Peter Maybury.
Slanted Reader on Design
Incoming 400-page book from Slanted on design, culture and complexity.
MacGuffin Magazine
Probably my favourite magazine these days – featuring fabulous stories about ordinary things, like rope, cabinets, windows and balls.
WATCH
Chef's Table
Incredible series that documents the life and work of some of the world's best chefs.
BlacKkKlansman
Thoroughly enjoyable film from Spike Lee.
Derry Girls
The second series of this gem of a show is just about to come out.
7 Days Out
Often fraught behind the scenes takes covering the seven days leading up to major live events in the worlds of sports, fashion, space and food.