Arts Life - Tina Darb

What I do: 2012 has been good. I finished art college last year expecting to have to work in an unrelated field, but ended up working in a gallery and as a freelance arts writer.

Favourite café: Nash 19 in Cork. Great food, and supporters of local farmers as well as the arts.

Current listening: Count John McCormack is singing in a video piece, “Shem the Penman Sings Again”, by Pádraig Trehy in CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery where I work, so I am listening to that eight hours a day at the moment.

The last gig I attended: I got to sneak into the practice session for the end-of-year recital in Cork School of Music and listen to the talented pianist Aligi Deiana prepare for his final this week.

The last book I read: Brian O’Doherty’s The White Cube.

My last trip to the theatre: Most memorable in recent months was Fiona Shaw’s performance at the UCC Gamelan Concert in Cork Opera House.

The last exhibition I attended: Listed: the independent 3rd year Crawford graduate show. I was invited to co-curate this year with Irish Examiner Arts Editor Marc O’Sullivan, so I have a great appreciation for the endeavours of the 57 participants.

My favourite film: The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is the first to enter my mind — it’s a must for fans of eyeliner and wallpaper.

My favourite writer/artist/musician: Ross O’Carroll Kelly because he’s so bold; Deirdre McLoughlin made a big impression with her Cork show recently; Johnny Cash, no contest.

My favourite work of art: The romantic in me loves Gustav Klimt’s ‘The Kiss’. It has a lot of bling too, which helps.

My favourite venue: The former FÁS Building on Sullivan’s Quay. This was earmarked for demolition in the Celtic Tiger years, but escaped. It is now a vibrant arts centre and home to the “Listed” exhibition until Sunday.

The writer/artist/musician I would most like to meet: Edna O’Brien, the bad girl of Irish writing; Grayson Perry, the transvestite potter; Imelda May, the Liberties Belle.

Bio: Tina Darb is from Castletownbere, Co Cork. She graduated from Crawford College of Art & Design in 2011. She is currently working in CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery, and is an arts writer, curator and artist.

Current events: Listed runs in the former FÁS Office on Sullivan’s Quay until Jun 10. Crawford 100 runs at CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery until Jun 23.