From No Surrender Portraits from the Albert Bar
Gareth McConnell
About the series McConnell says:
-“These portraits, taken over the Easter Period of 1999, were situated in a Loyalist Bar in my home town of Carrickfergus. It was a place I had only ever glimpsed into as a teenager - through a cracked door or through the security bars of the adjoining off sales. I wanted to create a set of images of the loyalist community which did not adhere to the strict media guidelines of bowler hatted men, apprentice boys, Drumcree rioters and super star terrorists posed against backdrops of Shankill Road murals. I wanted to make photographs with all the dignity and poise of old masters and not to revel in the slogans and iconography so closely associated with the protestant people.”
Gareth is teaching at our uni at the moment, I really hope he sticks around next year. He came to the exhibition I was in and a few of us had a really good chat with him. Really knows his stuff and has some very strong opinions on the whole ‘Mcginley youth’ scene which I have to say I share some of. The best thing about university is occasionally being tutored by some big fish.
is teaching at our uni at...moment, I really hope he sticks around next year. He came...