‘A lot of art in Ireland was made by one type of man’: Richard Malone on taking his colourful fabric creations to the EU Council

As his bold yet delicate sculptures fill the glass buildings of Brussels for Ireland’s turn at the EU presidency, the Wexford artist discusses working with Björk, his decorator father – and one noisy horse ‘Just so you know,” says Richard Malone before we begin talking, “if you hear any neighing, it’s not me!” The Irish artist is speaking to me from an unusual studio space: a farm in Stradbally, County Laois. It may have the odd equine intruder, hungry for press coverage, but it also boasts huge lambing sheds – the perfect location for Malone to construct his latest five-metre sculptures. “There’s lovely lambs everywhere and about 20 dogs running around,” he smiles. “Exactly what I’d choose to have around me.” Malone moved to the farm after being commissioned to create a sculpture installation for the Council of the European Union’s Justus Lipsius and Europa buildings (Ireland takes on the EU presidency this month). Titled Cuimhne agus Séadchomhartha (Memory and Monument), the work will incorporate his colourful fabric creations, which, with their dramatic drapes and folds, appear almost like mythical creatures. The plan, he says, is to rewrite the s