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PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTIST JEANETTE Lowe has brought it all back home for her exhibition of images taken in Dublin’s Pearse House flats.
Lowe, whose grandparents raised a family in the flats complex, previously had one of her portraits from the flats selected for the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. It was displayed in London’s National Portrait Gallery as a result.
Her body of work from the flats will now be exhibited in possibly the most appropriate location of all – the flats themselves. From this evening until 22 July, members of the public will be able to see the photographs in situ. The ‘gallery space’ will in fact be the two-bedroom Flat 8E in Pearse House.
Dublin Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí, who will launch the exhibition this evening at 5.30pm, said:
Jeanette’s exhibition offers a vivid glimpse into a vibrant community which exists almost invisibly within the heart of Dublin city.
Jeanette’s mother and siblings grew up in the flat directly above the one where she is showing her work. Jeanette said:
This exhibition is a journey back into the past. I have history here, in the flats. It’s now important to me to engage with the local community by bringing art inside the flats, and also to engage with those of us living outside the flats by giving us a reason to visit somewhere we may perceive as an alien environment. Ultimately, I want to change the perception of others, as mine have been changed.
You can go and see the exhibition, The Flats: Memories; Perceptions; Reality, at Flat 8E, Pearse House flats, Lower Erne Street, Dublin 2. It is opened from 11am-6pm Monday to Saturday and from noon to 5pm on Sunday. It is one of the events in the current PhotoIreland Festival 2012 (click here for more information on that).
These are some of the images from Lowe’s exhibition:
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At no point in the article is there a mention of life being tough for the residents of the flat complex so I’m not sure what “snuffbox” is going on about!!!
The few pictures shown here are great. I wish her the best of luck with the exhibition.
Snuffbox what a judgemental ignorant comment to make about the photographer. This woman has a great eye for capturing life and sharing it with a wider audience, best of luck in her exhibition.
Snuffbox, what are you on about? The pictures are from loads of different people that live and lived in the flats over the years not just the photographers family. Best of luck to her for organizing this exhibition, maybe it will inspire others to remember where they came from.
So what! Lifes just as tough everywhere else these days.she took a few photos just cause her granny was from there.
Hi Snuffbox, I refer you to Vanessa’s comment below,
Thanks, Susan, Editor.
like one of the unbelievables once said. “no matter where you go on holidays you never have to pack a bollix because your always sure to find one”
Love those pictures. Love when an artist/photographer ties in history and life, interesting to see that although we are sixty years on the kids are still the same. I am sure not much has changed in the flat complex either.
I am from Pearse house and it was great to see a lot off people coming in and meeting people that they have not seen in years and I met people that worked with my dad telling all the old stories what they got up two thanks well done xxx
Was a great experience for my mam and myself was great to c people who knew me as a child and knew her and chat and remember old times
Wish I was able to go and visit the flats as my Dad was born and raised in 5b Pearse house
His name was Godfrey ( Golly ) Coffey. my Granny Brigid lived there until she died age 83. I have many happy memories of visiting Grannys and meeting my uncle Vincent and my cousin Brigid who often stayed at my grannys house. Ive lived in Australia a long time now but go back frequently . My sister Barbara is visiting Dublin in August this year so she will make an effort to visit the recreated flat and record some pics for me .
have your say