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Brendan Flynn, Saoirse Teahan, Micheal Teahan, & Cailean Laing, all members of the Through Our Eyes Youth Photography Experience which will run at Kerry County Museum from April 22. Photo: Tara Donoghue.
A YOUTH photography exhibition, put together by a group of teenagers from Kerry and beyond who worked online during Lockdown, will run at Kerry County Museum from next weekend.
Facilitated by Tara Donoghue Photography for Kerry Local Creative Youth Partnership (LCYP), ‘Through Our Eyes – A Youth Photography Experience in Tralee’ will be presented at 3pm on Saturday, April 22, at the Audio-Visual Room in the Museum.
A series of largescale photographic works and accompanying documentary, it charts a youth journey through Lockdown.
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Discovering photography and their own creativity, the project helped the group cope with the changes in their lives, where finding something interesting to do in a closed down world became a challenge.
“Photography has made me look at things in a different way…to look at something as simple as a plant and say ‘Isn’t that a great photo’,” stated Cara Harrington, a group member and participant in the project.
“When Lockdown hit, so much face-to-face work with children and young people had to stop,” stated Deirdre Enright, Creative Youth Co-Ordinator at Kerry ETB.
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“This was necessary due to the insidious nature of the pandemic and Ireland’s response to it. We have heard of the damaging effects on mental health and wellbeing, but Through Our Eyes became a positive and exciting online journey for the young people involved,” she added.
The show is accompanied by a publication and a documentary which charts the joy experienced in simple things, but also the sense of freedom which emerged as the world opened up again and travel was possible.
The project has been guided by artist, educator and photographer Tara Donoghue who facilitated the project for the LCYP.
“The group had many different abilities and needs but were united by their excitement of seeing, looking and being creative about what they were shooting and sharing,” said Tara.
“It was a great learning experience for all of us. We had to adjust to life via the Zoom platform during lockdown and this project gave us the opportunity to look at things on our doorstep in a very different way. Sharing them together virtually was just as exciting and inspiring to others in the group. It will be a great experience to have the group come together in person for the first time, rather than online to view their amazing work on display,” added Tara.
As the work progressed the young people decided a photographic book was necessary as there was so much work emerging.
This resulted in a Through Our Eyes publication which was designed and produced by the group. The publication raises funds for a children’s charity, as an express wish of the group who were keen that a medical emergency like Lockdown could give back to children’s health in some way.
The group selected The Childhood Cancer Foundation of Ireland as their beneficiary. Sales to date from the publication are in excess of €350 and each copy costs €10.
The publication features a selection of photographs taken by children throughout Ireland who took part, all with the intention of seeing Ireland through their eyes in the difficult years of 2020 and 2021.
‘Through Our Eyes’ will launch at Kerry County Museum on Saturday April 22nd at 3.00pm and will run until Sunday June 25th. Everyone is welcome.
The show is highlighted on social media via @kerrylcyp and on www.kerryetb.ie/creativity For more information email denright@kerryetb.ie
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