Life through the Lens | Julie Daunt

Julie Daunt takes a look at what photography exhibitions are happening over the next weeks in the city.

     While we all might be snowed under with assignments and exams over the next few weeks, there are plenty of places where you can go to blow off some steam and put things in perspective. Sometimes we all need a break from college work so why not get some culture in you while you’re at it. There are plenty of upcoming photography exhibitions to suit even the most stressed and impoverished student. The city will feature works from internationally acclaimed photographers, as well as some home grown talent. So give yourself a break and why not spend an hour or two soaking up what this city has to offer?     Triskel Arts Centre: Maurizio Vallebella Retrospective (ends December 1^st): One exhibition which I will definitely be taking a look at is the photographic works of Maurizio Vallebella (Rome, December 9 1964 – Cork, November 10 2011) which takes place at the Triskel Arts Centre. The exhibition runs from November 8 to December 1 2012. The show is curated by Padraig Murphy and Harry Moore from St John’s College. Maurizio Vallebella is perhaps more widely known as being the owner of ‘La Tana’ pizzeria in town, and sadly past away just last year. He was also a photographer for the Cork Film Festival. The exhibition reveals Maurizio’s dedication and talent for photography and his overall passion for documenting life.Maurizio Vallebella arrived in Cork in 1999. He was a student in photography in St. John’s College which helped him to develop his career as professional photographer. He developed his reportage style of photography which became an outlet for his exploration and natural curiosity for life and society. In 2005 Maurizio was a recipient of the St. John’s Bursary Exhibition which allowed Maurizio to showcase his documentation of the Gaza strip between Palestine and Israel and the effect on the people of the dividing wall that was built there. Maurizio is also known for his documentation of the G8 summit protests. This exhibition is a retrospective of Maurizio’s work with the Triskel Arts Centre providing a fitting venue to emphasise Maurizio’s sympathy and enthusiasm for life and photography.      Crawford Art Gallery: Viviane Sassen – Parasomnia (ends November 24^th): Following on from the Stag & Deer THERE THERE photography event held in the city, Viviane Sassen’s exhibition entitled Parasomnia will take place in the Sculpture Gallery in the Crawford Art Gallery. The title refers to sleep disorders and the disorientated feeling, unusual actions and behaviours that are a result. The photographs consist of a vibrant dreamlike appearance and they also draw on our perceptions of the world to through up new experiences. They also draw on the influence of documentary, fashion and fine styles of art and photography. In Sassen’s exhibition Parasomnia, we are brought to a dream like place of ambiguity and uncertainty where we must rely on our own imaginative responses.Viviane Sassen is based in Amsterdam, although she spent part of her childhood in Kenya. The works in Parasomnia draw on her experiences of East Africa and consist of photographs taken from 2008– 2011. They represent an alternative vision to the Africa to what we are familiar with. She states that magical realism and surrealism are two of her major influences and these are both clearly shown in her works, designed to confuse that she aims to create work that confuses and intrigues the viewer. Sassen also won the Dutch Prix De Rome in 2007 and an Infinity Award from the International Centre of Photography in 2011. The exhibition provides a unique and thought provoking look at Africa and an imaginary dreamlike world.     Sirius Art Centre: Doug DuBois - My Last Day at Seventeen (ends December 23^rd): If you are willing to travel a little bit outside the city, the Sirius Art Centre in Cobh features the works of the American photographer Doug DuBois. Entitled ‘My Last Day at Seventeen’, and in partnership with the Arts Council and Cork County Council, the exhibition presents a partly documentary, partly fictional story of growing up in Ireland. The photographs focus on a small group of teenagers from the Russell Heights estate in Cobh. The photographs were taking while the Michigan born artist was participating in the Sirus Arts Centre's Artist in Residency Programme from 2009 – 2012DuBois initially found himself stymied when he arrived in Cobh. He set up a photography workshop and was inspired by two participants who took him to where a group of local teenagers hang out. He recalls his first encounter as being unsettling and intimidating. He only managed to get one portrait shot of one of the youths before the atmosphere turned sour and he was advised to get out of there. However, DuBois loved the one photograph he managed to get, in which he saw “all the fragile bravado of youth”, and so sparked his 4 year project. This exhibition presents the work he built up from of years visiting and revisiting these teens, with DuBois representing them sympathetically and attentively. Their personalities and characters shine through in these unique and thought provoking representations of Irish teenage life.