The See Change Team has been busy organising more venues for our ‘Look Beyond’ photovoice research exhibition in 2018. ‘Look Beyond’ is an exhibition of photographs taken by a group of 16 people who have experienced what it is like to live with mental health difficulties. The exhibition is an output of a research project conducted by Dr Maria Quinlan and Dr Etáin Quigley from University College Dublin and Maynooth University. ‘Look Beyond’ seeks to give insight into the often unseen reality of what it means to have a mental health problem. Altogether, there are 36 images in ‘Look Beyond’ and 90 in the associated catalogue. Photovoice is a research and advocacy methodology which uses photography as a way of giving voice to people who often feel unheard and unseen in society.
Dates for Look Beyond in 2018 include
- 3rd– 8th January, Visual Centre for Contemporary Art, Carlow, Co. Carlow
- 17th January- 8th February, Shine Discovery, Waterford, Co. Waterford
- 13th – 24th February, The Atrium, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
- 27th February -10th March, Nano Nagle Place, Cork, Co. Cork
- TBC May – Tallaght Hospital, Co. Dublin
- TBC August – South Tipperary Arts Centre, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary
- TBC November – Glór, Ennis, Co. Clare
Launch at Smock Alley
‘Look Beyond’ was launched in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin 8, on Wednesday 25th October with the help of Professor Jim Lucey of St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. Celine Moran, See Change Project Manager, thanked all participant photographers for their time and expertise and introduced the panel discussion which was chaired by Director of See Change John Saunders. The panel consisted of Dr Maria Quinlan, See Change Ambassador and ‘Look Beyond’ participant Rick Rossiter, Professor Jim Lucey and ‘Look Beyond’ participant Paul O Rourke.
Filmbase Exhibition, October Bank Holiday Weekend
Look Beyond’ was exhibited over the October bank holiday weekend in Filmbase on Friday 27th, Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th and Tuesday 31st until 2pm. Commenting on the exhibition, one member of the public said, “Today was one of those bad days, but I came into look at the ‘Look Beyond’ exhibition and read each artist’s piece and viewed the photos with tears in my eyes. Knowing I am not alone and (the artists) sharing your stories has helped greatly. Thank you to the artists and See Change.”
Inchicore library, Dublin
The photographs were on display in Inchicore library from Wednesday 1st November until Friday 17th November. See Change hope to engage with Dublin libraries in the new year again as part of Healthy Ireland at Your Library programme from January to March.
Hunt Museum, Limerick
The See Change Team held a regional launch of ‘Look Beyond’ on Tuesday 21st November 2017 at 6pm, in the Hunt Museum, Limerick. The exhibition was displayed in the Hunt Museum until Sunday 3rd December. Speaking about ‘Look Beyond’, John Downey, Director of Limerick and Tipperary Samaritans said, “Projects like ‘Look Beyond’ are vital as they give us an insight into personal experiences of living with a mental health problem, helping us to understand that experience more and decrease misconceptions.”
See Change ambassador and Limerick native, Jen Ronan, who spoke at the launch added, “As a See Change ambassador, I’m so proud to lend my support to their projects in whatever capacity I can. ‘Look Beyond’ is one of their most innovative ventures yet. All of the images in this exhibition are taken by ordinary people dealing with a wide range of mental health difficulties, and their desire is to create a lens through which the outside world can view how they experience life. It’s a wonderfully creative way to give voice to many of those who would normally find it very difficult to express what they are going through”.
UCD, Please Talk’s 10 Year Anniversary
‘Look Beyond’ featured at Please Talk’s 10 Year Anniversary celebrations which were held on 5th December at 6pm in UCD, the founding place of Please Talk. The project’s lead researchers Dr. Maria Quinlan and Dr. Etáin Quigley spoke on the evening along with one of Please Talk’s founders, Scott Ahearn and some Please Talk student ambassadors. Dr. Amanda Fitzgerald and Cliodhna O’Connor from UCD Youth Mental Health Lab spoke about the importance of getting students to talk about mental health.
