The publication of a catalogue of contemporary Irish art prompts a debate on the image of Ireland abroad.
Roderic Knowles is a fine art consultant, a member of the International Association of Art Critics, a gallery owner, an art publisher, an exhibition organiser and an artist.
He has compiled a superb catalogue to do with Irish contemporary art.
The catalogue contains information on artists that are currently alive and well and making a living in art in Ireland.
Roderic Knowles wears what he describes as his "working suit" emblazoned with the text "Art Critic!?" questioning the whole purpose of his profession as an art critic.
Having spent years travelling the world, Roderic Knowles returned to Ireland and decided to write this book as a way of finding what was going on in the art world in this country. He says that there are books being published every week about art and Irish artists are never included.
Since there's no documentation on Irish art, it's a kind of vicious circle. Irish art never gets included.
Roderic Knowles says that there is an image of Ireland abroad as a rather backward rural country obsessed with looking to the past.
Writer Ulick O'Connor, who is on the board of the Art Advisor Committee of the Hugh Lane Municipal Art Gallery, contests this view of Ireland as a backward country and points to the positive view of Ireland internationally when it comes to the literature.
Roderic Knowles says that this stereotypical view of Ireland is reinforced by the image of Ireland promoted by organisations like Bord Fáilte.
This episode of The Late Late Show was broadcast on 13 November 1982. The presenter is Gay Byrne.
