Women of Concern Photo Exhibition

Friday, Mar 5th, 2010 in Photography News, The IPWS Blog by Alan Murphy | Comment

Brenda Fitzsimons (left) with Marie McCallan and Kim Haughton (right), three of Ireland's top female Photographers, pictured here at the launch of their joint Concern Worldwide "Women of Concern", photographic exhibition held in the Gallery of Photography. Pic. Robbie Reynolds/CPR

Last Wednesday the Gallery of Photography, Dublin hosted the opening of the Women of Concern Photo Exhibition.  The exhibition features the work of three of Ireland’s leading female photographers – Marie McCallan , Kim Haughton and Brenda Fitzsimons.   The exhibition which runs to the 21st of March and coincides with International Women’s Day on March 8th. The photographs captured by the three photographers tell powerful stories of hope, determination and survival.  The exhibition is well worth a visit if only to view the solarized images captured by Brenda Fitzsimons as the people of Haiti set about rebuilding their country after their recent earthquake.  A photojournalist with the Irish Times Fitzsimons used the solarisation technique to “turn that news event into an art form and trick my audience into looking at pictures of Haiti again.” Marie McCallan photographs document the people of Bangladesh while Kim Haughton travelled to Ethopia.

Here are a selection of images by Kim Haughton.

Zinet Hussien (16) and her father Yesuf threshing wheat near their house in Addei, Ethiopia. Zinet was betrothed as a baby and forced into an early marriage last year. Her father was detained by police for selling his daughter into the marriage, a traditional practise still prevalent in rural Ethiopia. Photo. Kim Haughton

Alem is a member of the women's self help group in the district. She joined to get support and entered a savings scheme where she was then able to borrow capital to set up her business. Photo. Kim Haughton.