Artist Emer Gillespie’s work ‘Home Narratives’ is currently exhibiting in Rua Red, South Dublin arts centre, from 24 September to 29 October.
Home Narratives is an exhibition of photographic work comprised of two main bodies of work.
Two Homes is a project that gives candid insight into an alternative domestic partnership, challenging the notion of a traditional nuclear family as the only viable option in today’s society. By using comparative diptychs of seemingly mundane subjects, the viewer is encouraged to consider the ‘family’ in the context of the artist’s child’s two homes.
Picture you, Picture me is a collaborative and explorative portrait project with the artists daughter. Directing each other through role-play and instructions the camera becomes an instrument of amusement and their photo shoots become play sessions. Exploring topics such as child autonomy and the relationship between subject and photographer it allows the viewer a personal view into this mother/ daughter relationship.
Photography, by its nature as a visual medium, only shows the surface of what are complex relationships and subjective realities. The family is perpetually evolving, an entity in which relationships grow and shrink, develop and dissolve, strengthen and dissipate. As a participant-observer, these images are an examination of appearance and existence, perception and thought through the visual exploration of the artist’s family.
Below is an interview with the artist further exploring the work:
‘Home Narratives’ is an exhibition of two bodies of photographic work, ‘Two Homes’ and ‘Picture You, Picture Me’ – both are very personal in nature and involve collaboration with your family – did you find this to be an easy process?
Yes and no! It’s easy in so far as it’s my life, my home, my family, but at times strangely surreal when I see it up on gallery walls. I started to focus my work on my family and home when my daughter and I moved over to England by ourselves. With no family and friends living in the UK initially, I was house bound a lot while studying and so began to shoot around the house. The work has developed on from there and generally one project inspires another and so on. Photography for me is strongest when you are shooting something you are passionate about, and for me Laoisha has been my muse.
Both series look at your relationships to your family –has your photographic practice altered these relationships? Do you find it has been therapeutic?
I think therapeutic is a good word, particularly with my daughter Laoisha. In Picture you, Picture Me our photo sessions are like play sessions where we work alone, together and mess around. I revel in her excitement and suggestions and am always surprised with her input and curiosity. For the two Homes project it was a little trickier as I wanted to be respectful of my daughter’s father home and his space. We are friends though and do just hang out together anyway, so at times it has strengthened our relationship as parents.
While it is clear in ‘Picture you, picture me’ that your daughter enjoys the photographic process (and has a strong visual eye!) were you ever concerned that the images in your body of work may be read as exploitative?
No, not at all. Laoisha revels in our sessions, and if ever she says she does not want to take pictures today, I respect that and put the camera away. I never want her to feel that our sessions are unenjoyably or laborious and so ensure they are light-hearted session where she can explore the camera and our role-play sessions. Photography as a visual art form is subjective by nature. The power of people’s subjectivity can overpower all artistic intention if it so wishes and that is something the artist has very little control over. The ability of each reader to add to, alter or simply re-read an image opens possibilities of collective authorship that breaks down the idea of art originating from a single fixed source, the artist. This is something that fascinates me and I am always interested to hear people’s interpretation of an artists work!
‘Two Homes’ is visually split into comparative diptychs exploring issues around the family and gender, with often-humorous results, were you aware of this during the process of creating the work or was it an unexpected outcome?
I became aware of it as I was shooting for the project. It was not something that I set out to show, but I think it is an interesting element to the work. I also do not think that it is a negative reflection at all on my daughters and her father’s relationship, as is clearly visible in the first image of the series at his front door. Being a loving and supportive father is much more important than filing your bath with ducks!
Your work visually depicts an alternative to notions on the traditional family unit – is this a subject important to you?
Yes, and I think it is especially relevant to Ireland. I think the difference of one generation has made a massive impact on Irish society, the main difference being the weakening of the stronghold of the Catholic church on our society where it is not an immortal sin to have a child outside of wedlock! I myself have a half brother when adoption was the only option for many back 30/40 years. But we still have a way to go. Being a young single mother can still be seen as a negative on a child’s future. I believe it is the individual parent/family structure that nurtures a child and that it does not have to be a nuclear family structure that provides a positive home for a child.
While ‘Picture you, picture me’ is an ongoing series are you planning on continuing making other work involving your family unit?
Yes and no. Both our families are changing. We both now live with other people and I am actually getting married next year, so it may be something I extend Two Homes into. However, I think for my next project I would like to shoot outside my family. It’s emotionally draining at times so I would like to give everyone a break from my camera!! Picture You, Picture Me however I see continuing on through the years until Laoisha either does not want to shoot anymore, or takes me out of the pictures!!
For further information and to contact Emer see here: http://www.emergillespie.com
