We all know that James Joyce’s Ulysses is widely hailed as a masterpiece of modernist literature. Such praise is well deserved but often deeply off-putting for the general reader. Join us as we discover Joyce’s book anew – as we discover how Ulysses is about us and our everyday lives. For Joyce, the ordinary and the everyday were special – the whole process of living through each successive day could be rich in possibilities. He teaches us how to open our minds and spirits to the wealth of connections we can have with each other and with our own rich internal lives.
This is what makes Ulysses special. It is about you, and you and you. . .
***The screening will be followed by an illustrated talk on the Chester Beatty Library’s fascinating collection of 18th century caricatures and satirical prints depicting events from the French Revolution.
Saturday 21st July from 11am
Join us for a day celebrating the best in Japanese cinema. We will enjoy introductory talks & Q&A sessions with Dr Eric Egan (Lecturer in Film Studies), 2 film screenings and a Japanese bento box for lunch in the
Oriental Café on South Great Georges Street.
***Please note that lunch is optional.
Tokyo Story (1953)
Widely hailed as a cinematic masterpiece, and believed by many to be one of the greatest films ever made,
Tokyo Story is one of Director Yasujirô Ozu's most famous works. The film tells the story of an older couple visiting their children and grandchildren in the city, only to be met with contempt and impatience by everyone other than their Daughter-in-law. Ozu was a master of minimalist observation of the changing Japanese middle classes and his influence on independent and Arthouse cinema has been profound.
Still Walking (2008)
Still Walking is a drama about grown children visiting their elderly parents, which unfolds over one summer day. A son and daughter return for a rare family reunion, bringing their own families with them. They have gathered to commemorate the tragic death of the eldest son, who drowned in an accident fifteen years ago. Although the roomy house is as comforting and unchanging as the mother's homemade feast, everyone in the family has subtly changed. With a nuanced balance of gentle humour and wistful sorrow, Director Hirokazu Koreeda portrays just how precious, and precisely how annoying, family can be.
Thursday 26th July from 5.30pm
Members’ Summer Party
The tale of the Bamboo Cutter (Taketori monogatari) is the oldest Japanese work of fiction in prose. The Chester Beatty Library holds a 17th century version in a set of two picture scrolls, believed to be the earliest extant example and recognised as one of the finest of its kind.
***The Chester Beatty Library will re-open at 5.30pm until 7pm for a Members’ only after-hours viewing of The tale of the Bamboo Cutter temporary exhibition (no booking required). The Silk Road Café will be open from 5.30pm until 6.30pm. The party will begin at 6.30pm with an illustrated talk "History in our hands – The restoration of “The tale of the Bamboo Cutter” by Restorient, a conservation studio in The Netherlands specialising in Japanese works of art on paper and silk. This will be followed by a Japanese welcome drink and traditional Japanese three course meal in the Oriental Café, South Great Georges Street.
Tuesday 31st July & Wednesday 1st August
Trip to Letterkenny & Derry
Join us for a guided tour of Glebe House to view artist Derek Hill’s wonderful collection of Western and East Asian art including works by Picasso, Hokusai and le Brocquy. There will be time to roam around the woodland gardens and to visit the temporary exhibition in the adjoining gallery.
The next day we will journey to Derry to visit the Story of Derry and the Armada Shipwreck exhibitions in the Tower Museum. We will also enjoy a guided walk along the city’s 17th walls to learn about the fascinating history of this medieval town.
Saturday 18th August at 11.30am
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal
Book Club meeting
***Join us for tea, coffee and biscuits before the meeting
The Hare with Amber Eyes is a family memoir by British ceramicist Edmund de Waal. He tells the story of his family the Ephrussi, who were once a very wealthy European Jewish banking dynasty centered in Odessa, Vienna and Paris, peers of the Rothschild family. The Ephrussi lost almost everything in 1938 when their property was "Aryanized" by Nazis.
After the war the family never recovered most of the their extensive property including priceless artwork, but an easily hidden collection of 264 Japanese netsuke miniature sculptures was miraculously saved, tucked away inside the mattress of a loyal maid during the war years. The collection was passed down as inheritance through five generations providing a common thread to tell the story of the Ephrussi fortunes from 1871 to 2009.
Saturday 18th August at 2pm
Netsuke and Inro: “From Fashion Fobs to Coveted Collectibles”
We will enjoy a talk on Japanese inro, netsuke and other luxurious objects explored for their function and as markers of wealth with Ruth Starr, Lecturer, Arts of Japan, Trinity College Dublin
Sunday 26th August for 3 nights
Trip to Vienna – In the footsteps of Gustav Klimt and The Hare with Amber Eyes
Vienna is famous for its museums and galleries, its classical music and theatres, its cafes and beautiful parks. This year the city is celebrating 150 years since the birth of artist Gustav Klimt. Our summer trip will include visits to the following museums: