"MARK CURRAN: Southern Cross - A Documentary Portrait of Contemporary Ireland"
2002-03-06 until 2002-04-10
Gallery of Photography
Dublin, , IE Ireland

This exhibition marks the culmination of Irish artist Mark Currans long-term documentary portrait of contemporary Ireland. It comprises two series, prospect and site. In site Curran focusses on the new landscape of motorways and by-passes capturing both the majesty and the uncertainty of Irelands rapid development. The exhibition provides a timely opportunity for reflection on a pivotal period in Irelands history.

Alongside his landscapes, Curran presents portraits of construction workers which dramatically convey the dignity of manual labour at a time when it is set to become a thing of the past. These images intersect with works from the prospect series, which concentrates on the Brave New World of the IFSC, Irelands financial district.

Brought together under the multi-layered title, Southern Cross, the works combine both aesthetic and documentary impulses in a new mapping of social geography. The images are precise, lucid, factual. They are also deeply - and strangely - beautiful.

A full-colour publication titled Southern Cross accompanies the exhibition. It includes an essay by Justin Carville, lecturer in Historical and Theoretical Studies in Photography and poem by the writer and poet, Philip Casey.

The exhibition will be opened by Frank McDonald on Weds March 6th at 6.30pm.

Mark Curran will Talk about his work on Weds March 13th at 1.15pm. All welcome, admission is free.

About the artist: Mark Curran received a Diploma in Photography from Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art Design & Technology in 2001. He was awarded the Gallery of Photography Development Bursary in 2000 and subsequently shortlisted for the first AIB Prize. His work is included in private collections in Ireland and Europe. He is represented by Büro für Fotos, Cologne.

IMAGE:
south of the city
Mark Curran

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for Ireland

Other Important Exhibitions in Ireland