Exhibitions

from Representing Ireland |© the photographer

Representing Ireland |photographs by tourists compiled by Michael Durand

October 21st - November 18th 2004

Representing Ireland is a dazzling installation of over two hundred photographs made by tourists/visitors to Ireland. It is the culmination of a four-year mail art project by the Irish artist, Michael Durand.

Tourists are usually the passive target of campaigns selling 'brand Ireland' but here they were given the opportunity to present the image that they felt best represents the country. The result includes the quirky, the beautiful, the boring, the grim and the glamorous. 'Bad' photographs rub shoulders with technically accomplished ones. Representing Ireland provides a refreshing alternative to the time-worn certainties of Bord Failte's creation and gently questions some of our cherished myths about ourselves.

The exhibition is accompanied by a full-colour artist's book, which includes a selection of images from the exhibition and an essay by Colin Graham. Printed in a numbered edition of just 200, the book is available exclusively through the Gallery of Photography bookshop.

Artist Talk: Michael Durand will give a talk about his work on Wednesday, 10th November at 1.15pm. Admission is free, all are welcome.

The exhibition and publication were supported by the Arts Council and Griffith College, Dublin.

About the photographer:
Born in Waterford in 1969, Michael Durand graduated from the Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design with a Diploma in Photography and a Degree in Fine Art. He has held exhibitions in national and international spaces, including Cite des Arts, Paris, Gallery of Photography, Dublin, National Portrait Gallery, London, Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick, Temple Bar Gallery & Studios, Dublin and Artotec, Grenoble. His work is included in the collections of the National Photographic Archive, The Ark Children's Cultural Centre, Microsoft and the Musee Niepce in France. In March 2004 during Ireland's EU Presidency, he represented Ireland as resident artist at the Council of Ministers in Brussels

Press Information
For press scans or to arrange an interview, please contact: 01-671 4654 or email; info@galleryofphotography.ie