Georgie, Sheriff Street, Dublin, 1985

Daniel de Chenu , Irish, b.1961

Title

Date1985

MediumGelatin silver print

Dimensions

19.4 × 29.5 cm

Credit LinePurchased, 2022

Object numberNGI.2022.21

DescriptionThis photograph an old man sitting in his home was part of a project that focused on the people and environment of Sheriff Street in Dublin. The project began in the autumn of 1984 and concluded with an exhibition that began in the local Community Centre and then toured to number of galleries across the island of Ireland including the Project Arts Centre in Dublin’s Temple Bar. It was De Chenu’s first solo exhibition of photography.

Artist’s statement: This image was a pivotal moment in the project. I had been photographing in the area for a few months and had been returning and giving small 5 x 3 inch prints as gifts to people who had posed for me. I was asked by a boy if I would take a picture of his grandfather, Georgie. Georgie wasn’t too bothered by my presence in his home given that I was with his grandson. His grandson told him he would bring him the picture when I brought it back. We chatted about this and that and I made my images. When I printed this image and saw and felt how it had captured a sense of Georgie that had the appearance of a truth to it. I put a copy on my wall. Viewing the image day after day I became more convinced that my idea to try and photograph the people who lived in the Sheriff Street flats complex might just be a worthwhile endeavour after all. Prior to this breakthrough in the project I, like many photographers embarking on a new body of work, wasn’t confident that the project could produce something interesting. After making this image and seeing the potential in the project I redoubled my efforts and tried to make visits to the area more frequently.
ProvenancePurchased, 2022Exhibition History‘Sheriffer’, Sheriff Street Community Centre, Project Arts Centre, Dublin, Monaghan County Museum, Craigavon Arts Centre, Portadown Arts Centre and Galway Arts Centre. 1987 – 1989.
The Loving Eye, Kodak Gallery, Tokyo, Japan 1991.