Photographic Exhibition at IMPACT THEATRE

the rest of everywhere else

Photographic Exhibition by Paul Tarpey

IMPACT THEATRE, Limerick, August 11-20/2005, Noon-6pm Daily, Admission Free.

This solo exhibition presents the underbelly of Irish landscape photography
undertaken in the West of Ireland; 2003-2005.

Traditionally, the visual representation of tourist areas is a romantic and nostalgic one. The images on show here are notes on what becomes edited out by the recordings of the tourist industry.

Paul Tarpey has been intensively photographing the Irish environment since the late 80s. He contrasts the early days to today by pointing out "in the late 80s-early 90s [it] was defined by economics, it was the emigration landscape. Documentary photography was apt, however today it is very difficult to sum up Ireland using this method and the emigration landscape
has disappeared".

The photographs investigate how Ireland portrays itself today. Tourist areas are like a vortex where the images are more often imagined and contructed, than real. This touristic notion of Ireland, that is being sold abroad is but a veneer: this work records what is beneath that veneer.

Paul Tarpey is a Limerick based artist, an associate member of Limerick Printmakers and works in photography and video with a particular interest in social landscape forms.

Previous work includes:

Solo shows, Arts Council, Dublin[1992], The Linenhall Gallery, Castlebar [1993].

Sequences of photographs have been published in various private publications [force 10], also for community projects in the West of Ireland. Paul has been undertaking research and workshops in Co. Mayo over the past few years and currently teaches in Athlone Institute of Technology.

Further Info: Phone Paul at 086 3752606
See some of the photos in the exhibition here