Features
James Keating speaks to Sinead McDonald about her upcoming Photography Exhibition on the stigma of mental health
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’ve been depressed. And I waited far too long to talk about it. This is what photographer Sinead McDonald is hoping to see, openness about mental health. It would be remiss of me not to be candid about it, considering she’s taken my picture as part of an upcoming exhibition. Her work will be displayed during the First Fortnight Festival, a two week long event of music and art with the aim of getting rid of the stigma surrounding mental health problems in Ireland. First Fortnight Founder, JP Swaine, hopes that the event will create conversation about mental health amongst those attending. “If we bring people to an arts event that’s about mental health
stigma reduction we can start to replicate the social process that we’d like to see happening in other areas.” Sinead’s contribution to this process is simple, yet powerful. A series of portraits taken in almost identical circumstances: minimal lighting, a coloured background and a DSLR are the tools, but Sinead says that “it’s not about the pictures, it’s about
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produces an altogether different photograph to what one would expect from a portrait, drawing inspiration from the typological style of Thomas Ruff. To add to the narrative the photos create there will also be a textual element alongside the photographic. Each person captured is asked to write a short note, based on the #whatstigma twitter hashtag. The note de-
I’ve been depressed. And I waited far too long to talk about it.
the person”. It’s clear when looking at the portraits she’s taken thus far that this is the case. Some captured are smiling, some stoic. The background colour is chosen by the sitter. The resulting photographs turn out to be wonderfully distinct, capturing simply the individual with no pose, and always at a frontal view. They aren’t typical of her usual style of portrait - the setup is basic, the shooting quick. It
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scribes the person’s experience of mental health issues, their feelings on the social stigma attached or both. Through this combination of visuals and text Sinead hopes to build a typology of mental health which shows that we all have a story to tell about it. According to See Change, the organisation First Fortnight is supporting, one in four people in Ireland will experience a mental health problem during their life. The
exhibition will show how disp rate individuals are all affected by allowing their differences to take centre stage. Sinead explained, “People are already talking about it. Someone from Australia and someone from the Netherlands have told me stories about their own problems. The exhibition is doing what it’s supposed to.” The use of the #whatstigma hashtag should help. It offers visitors to the exhibition encouragement to follow the example of those in the photographs and tweet about their experiences with mental health and stigma. “Sitters didn’t immediately jump at the opportunity to have their image on display.“At first people were reluctant to take part, but now, after seeing the photos they want to do it.” It seems Sinead has hit upon the right formula, the photos are of people, not their problems. “They see they’re not just pictures of ‘crazy’ people”. Her use of the word “crazy” may be in jest, but for many this type of dismissive language is a reality of living with a mental health problem. First Fortnight as a whole has plenty to offer those not directly affected. At the festival launch JP Swaine revealed a line-up of music, art, theatre and film which has broad appeal. “We’ve set our bar high in producing a festival that people will see as artistically credible, that will create energy and excitement.” The acts are certainly impressive, Cashier no.9, Le Galaxie and Mark Geary are amongst the musical highlights. There will also be a screening of ‘The Devil and Daniel Johnston’, and the musician has supported First Fortnight with an exclusive drawing which will feature on festival t-shirts. JP thinks the festival line-up will attract people interested in the various events on offer, not just people who want to support the cause. “I think the audience will turn up because they like the band or the artist or the play, and then maybe learn a little bit about mental health stigma.” The festival will run from the 4th to the 14th of January in a number of venues in Temple Bar. For the full line-up check out firstfortnight.com
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