With growing racial tensions across the globe and the emergence of far right groups in Ireland, #IamIrish makes its mark on home ground to challenge perceptions of what it looks like to be Irish in 2017.
This October in Axis Ballymun, #IamIrish presents an exhibition and series of events exploring Identity, Race, Culture and Heritage. Inspired by a persisting lack of representation of the Black Irish experience, Lorraine Maher launched the project to celebrate a more diverse representation of Irish identity and to question the concept of ‘Irishness’ and what that means for Irish communities today. This project maps the roots, the lives and experiences of Irish people of mixed heritage creating a unique opportunity to challenge perceptions of what it looks like to be Irish and open up people’s minds to the diversity of Irish people.
After a highly successful launch at the London Irish Centre in October 2016 the exhibition is making its Irish debut in Axis Ballymun with this impressive creative community experience brought together in in celebration of Black History Month, October 2017.
Maher collaborated with photographer Tracey Anderson to make an intimate study of the faces, lives and experiences of 22 mixed race Irish people living in the UK. The series of portraits will be exhibited at Axis Arts Centre, Ballymun from October 2– 31, and will be complimented by a series of school and community group visits and a public conversation on Wednesday October 25th exploring perceptions of Colour, Culture, Identity, Heritage and the challenges faced in Irish society.
Tickets for the I Am Irish Panel discussion, which takes place on October 25th at 7 p.m. can be purchased here.
