1952 – Irish Pavilion, Frankfurt Trade Fair, Germany

The Irish Pavilion at the Frankfurt Trade Fair was intended to develop industrial exports to Western Germany and the continental markets. The Pavilion was utilised by Irish firms during the Spring and Autumn Fairs. Designed by Gerald McNicholl of the Office of Public Works, later its Principal Architect in 1968.

Initially the pavilion was regarded by officials as not being distinctively Irish and a meeting at the Cultural Relations Committee was held to discuss their desire to embellish the building with an Irish emblem. It was required to “be modern” as they wished to present a modern image of the young state internationally. The work of Hilary Heron (1923-77) was chosen as suitable, and she designed and made a giant elk head out of welded steel and walnut to sit on the roof apex over the entrance to the building in 1952. She was the first artist to exhibit welded sculpture in Ireland at her second Dublin solo show in 1953. Welding had become central to Heron’s practice in the early 1950s, and this was one of the first times she used it was for a government commission.