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WORDS Kerry Mahony next project. “Lockdown made m
e think a lot about space – where I feel comfortable and where I don’t. It’s difficult to find spaces for queer people that don’t revolve around alcohol, and I struggled with that. I started chatting to my friends about these emotions I was having and got inspired.” With Ireland beginning to open up, she started thinking about the possibilities of an exhibition. “I had never done a project where I had to think about physical space, to consider where people would walk around and take in the work. I wanted to challenge myself with that.” The managers of her photography studio, Block T Studios on Bow Lane, suggested she host the exhibition there. However, the space wasn’t purpose-built for shows, meaning she would have to build the walls herself to hang the art. The project was quickly becoming costly as well as time-consuming. “I picked up more hours at my job and sold prints, but it wasn’t enough.” She decided to do what comes naturally – harness social media. In February, she posted a GoFundMe to crowdfund €700 towards printing, construction and film development. “Within a few days, we had the full amount raised with people still donating. I had to shut it down!” The exhibition was titled No Queer Apologies, with the introduction describing it as “both an act of solidarity and a call to action.” The photographs are a mixture of colour and black and white, making up a moving patchwork of Ireland’s queer youth. Experimenting with space, bodies and semi-staged moments, the project feels like a fitting step forward from her first project. Over the course of four hours, 500 attendees passed through the doors of Block T to enjoy the art, live music, and mingle in a primarily LGBTQ+ space. “Everyone said it was so nice to talk to new queer people. Things like this need to happen more in Dublin.” “The exhibition was one night only, but I felt it deserved a longer lifespan.” Niamh tells me. “A photobook felt like the best way to honour it.” She began working with designer and collaborator Yosef Phelan to tell the story in book format. “It’s my first photobook and a big step in my career. I love how it’s an accessible way of spreading the message – it can be shared around and live on someone’s coffee table forever.” This time last year, Niamh was preparing to exhibit Queer Hearts of Dublin in Hen’s Teeth. Since then, she has shot for Brown Thomas’ 2021 Pride campaign, been named one of RTÉ’s 2022 Upcoming Artists, and received The Arts Council Agility Award grant for an upcoming project. It’s exciting and aweinspiring to watch the high-speed journey she’s had so far. “If you don’t get the opportunities, you have to make them yourself,” she tells me. When asked what advice she has for emerging creatives, she says: “Women and non-male identifying people struggle to be assertive. It’s intimidating to ask for help, whether you need advice or to raise funds for work. But I feel like most people are really receptive! If you believe in what you’re doing, other people will too. You have to reassure yourself that you are worth it, and that your art is worth it too.” You can visit Niamh’s No Queer Apologies exhibition and photobook launch in Hen’s Teeth from 26-28 May. @narryphotographyvids 57