and then I ran
Emi O’Connell
PhotoIreland
English
Softcover
Edition of 200
32 pages
148 × 210 mm
2024
ISBN Not Available
‘and then I ran employs self-portraiture, image and text, visualising the narrative of my grandmother’s recollection of escaping a mother and baby home, 1964, Ireland. Mother and baby homes were funded by the government and run by religious orders. These homes forced unwed mothers into secrecy while neglecting to provide adequate care for mothers and babies. The project explores Ireland’s deep shame culminating from the separation and exportation of babies, as well as oppressive conditions experienced by these women.
and then I ran has three elements interlaced throughout. Black and white images are performative reenactments referring to my grandmother’s escape and a visual representation of loss. The colour imagery shows the aftermath, bringing the viewer to a specific landscape to revisit a memory. The mixture of the three elements sit between current day and history, going back in time to discuss ideas of freedom, distress and confinement.’ – Emi O’Connell
(source: https://www.thelibraryproject.ie/collections/tlp-editions/products/and-then-i-ran-emi-o-connell)
About the Artist
Based in South East London, Emi O’Connell’s work focuses on equality and women’s health with a particular interest in phototherapy and using visual arts as a way to sensitively approach topics of trauma. She uses re-enactment and self-portraiture, as well as a research-based practice mixing documentary photography and performative elements throughout her work. Emi’s intimate and sensitive approach uses primarily analogue photography and cameraless techniques. For commercial and editorial work Emi has worked with Financial Times, Net-a-Porter and Harrods.
emioconnellphotography.com
(source: https://www.emioconnellphotography.com/about2)
About the Series
TLP Editions are an ongoing collection of contemporary photographic projects in the form of accessible and inexpensive publications by PhotoIreland. These A5 sized booklets present a standard format throughout the series, with 36 pages each, a cover with a text block of under 140 words that introduces the project, and the title and the artist name only available on the contra cover. The project creates a node of opportunities as it allows photographers to enter the publishing arena, while facilitating access to contemporary artistic practices to the general public.
thelibraryproject.ie
(source: https://www.100archive.com/projects/tlp-editions)
About the Publisher
Founded in 2009, PhotoIreland was conceived as an organisation to stimulate a dialogue around photography in Ireland by developing a varied array of initiatives and events with a strong participative approach.
photoireland.org
(source: https://wiki.photoireland.org/publications/new-irish-works-the-passenger-ailbhe-ni-bhriain/)
