HIGHLIGHTS
Over 9 previous editions, Belfast Photo Festival has developed expertise, relationships, momentum and vision on what, how and where it curates and presents work within Belfast. The organisation has proven its ability to celebrate contemporary photography in the city whilst attracting and engaging national and international audiences through a diverse programme of participation, development, exhibitions and events.
In 2022 we also commissioned Swiss-based French graffiti artist Saype’s to bring his worldwide ‘Beyond Walls’ Project and extend its symbolic human links to Northern Ireland. The gigantic, biodegradable lawn fresco of intertwined hands was displayed at the Stormont Estate. The artwork is extended over an area of 45 by 240 metres. Created using pigments made of charcoal and chalk, the artwork will fade away with the growth of the grass. The hands of people from Belfast are the photographic base of the artworks, advocating solidarity, dialogue and friendship beyond geographical and societal constraints.
2022 marked 25 years since the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement and the Festival presented a newly commissioned body of work by renowned Northern Irish photographer Hannah Starkey. ‘Principled and Revolutionary: Northern Ireland’s Peace Women’ honours and celebrates the women who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. An iteration of the exhibition will be on show as part of a major exhibition on activist feminist practice at the South London Gallery in collaboration with the V&A, launching in March 2024 to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Starkey’s artwork aims to ignite a conversation about the impact and importance of women’s leadership, not just here in Belfast, but globally. The 21 portraits in the exhibition highlight some of the many women who have been pivotal to peace building and community activism in this country through their work in both the political, cultural and social spheres. Through exploring these, too often untold, stories, we hope to shine a light on the legacies and impact of women's activism here in Belfast and to inspire younger generations of women to make their voices heard.
Following its show at the 9th edition of Belfast Photo Festival, Zanele Muholi’s ‘Somnyama Ngonyama’ was negotiated, toured and presented at the University of Glasgow. The work was branded and accompanied by Belfast Photo Festival in partnership with Street Level Photoworks and The Hunterian, University of Glasgow. For Muholi, visual activism is a tool for world-building:
"This work is done to ensure that the next generation will be able to draw on a diverse – and queer – archive of images for visual reference: a document to see themselves in and feel represented."
Artist: Zanele Muholi
In 2019 our interactive exhibition ‘Jump Trump’. was launched as the controversial US President enjoyed his first visit to Ireland since his election to the White House. The jump was from a raised platform onto an inflatable mat adorned with a photograph of the 45th US president. The experience was on offer at the Golden Thread Gallery as part of the 2019 Belfast Photo Festival. Organic press was confirmed at 24 Million by J Comms Agency in Belfast as part of the wider festival’s Monitoring and Evaluation.