A photographer in Dublin is creating a set of portraits of people who are set to emigrate.
The photographer is David Monahan, and the project is called “Leaving Dublin”. The photographs are stunning: each of them depicts a nighttime scene taken in Dublin of a solitary figure or a family days away from departure. Some of those pictured are Irish-born; others are people who came during the boom years, some who thought they’d be living in Ireland permanently. These images of these strangers photographed against the Dublin backdrops of their choice are deeply compelling and moving.
Monahan says of his project:
“this is an art project with no intention other than to immortalise what is being lost to our country”.
He adds that he is “looking for people who would like to participate in making a statement about their imminent departure.”
Emigration has traditionally been under-represented in visual arts in Ireland. This is a beautiful project, and an important one.
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