Kieran Whelan

I have a keen interest in art and design. As a photographer, my interests pivot around the elements of colour, shape, and shadow. I am influenced by the photography of our manmade environment, photographers working in America during the 1970s, such as Lewis Baltz, and Stephen Shore. The colour work of Saul Leiter, Fred Herzog, and Keld Helmer-Petersen has also had an influence on my practice.

Trying to Make Some Sense of it All

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This project brings back to life a set of colour images that have been silent and hidden from view for 45 years. It pivots around the recent discovery of two boxes of 35mm Kodachrome colour slides in my mother-in-law’s house, and the mystery surrounding the ownership of these ‘found’ images. The photographs, dating from 1979 to 1980, were shot in Britain, nominally Glasgow and its environs. And while they open up the family home of the amateur photographer who cements his own identity as the imagemaker in certain shots, the family nonetheless remains enigmatic and elusive. This ‘found’ work is presented to the viewer in two modes for them to scrutinise: a photobook and a set of large prints. The viewer is thus invited to draw on the locations, individuals, hobbies, cars, home décor, fashion, possessions, relationships, and social activities revealed in the images so that they may create their own narratives. The enduring power and allure of film-based photography is implicit in this project.

* My project title is a line taken from the lyrics of the 1973 hit ‘Stuck in the Middle With You’ by Glasgow band, Stealers Wheel. 

 

Colour Abstractions Fragments and Traces of a Harbour

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I asked my wife, Catherine, who was born in Howth, to write a piece for my book, based on her thoughts, feelings, memories, and meanings of the Harbour. This she did, and I have her to thank for the beautiful writing as the foreword of my book.

Fragments and Traces of a Harbour

The sounds of the pipe band practicing, the roll of the drums.
The sound of the boom, someone was in trouble at sea.
Leather boots on the cobble stones, men running in response to the lifeboat call.
The Blessing of the Graves, walking to the cemeteries, at St Mary’s, and The Abbey.
Stocking the fishing boat for the week ahead.
The sight of the waves crashing over the harbour wall in stormy weather.
The bus getting stuck on the bend of the hill behind the church.
Sitting in upstairs window of The Abbey Tavern watching passers-by.
Perry crisps with a tiny sachet of salt inside.
Playing on the 69 steps with the baby in the pram.
Nana’s front door open, always open.
The sound of her voice singing The Black Velvet Band.
Brendan Bowyer’s The Hucklebuck on the record player.
Grandan standing at the corner, cap on his head, cigarette held into his cupped hand.
Men in Sunday suits and the hum of prayer at the Blessing of the Boats.

Catherine Whelan

 
 
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