Conversations on Collecting – a one-day Symposium
Keynote Speaker: Francis Hodgson
Who is collecting contemporary photography? What is involved in getting artworks into collections? What trends are developing in the international arena, and what opportunities exist for the Irish photography community?
These and other issues were addressed in Conversations on Collecting, a one-day informal symposium on all aspects of collections and collecting.
Morning session speakers: Elizabeth Kirwan, National Photographic Archive; Alex Davis, IVARO; Leszek Wolnik, The Copper House Gallery; and Dónall Curtin, collector.
The keynote speaker was Francis Hodgson, Photography critic for the Financial Times, co-founder of the Prix Pictet Prize and formerly Head of Photographs at Sotheby’s.
This was followed by a Q&A session with panellists Oliver Sears, Oliver Sears Gallery; Kieran O’Boyle, Adams Auctioneers; Jerome O Drisceoil, Green on Red Gallery and Seán Hillen, artist. The day concluded with the announcement of the winner of the SHOWCASE Solo Award. Selected by a nationwide panel of Ireland’s top curators, the five shortlisted artists were on exhibition at the Gallery of Photography. The winner received an artist’s residency, solo exhibition and production supports at The Copper House.
Conversations on Collecting took place on Saturday January 26th, 10am-5pm. It is organised as part of SHOWCASE 2012, Ireland’s leading award for contemporary photography. A special limited-edition set of portfolio, produced by Copper House Gallery for the SHOWCASE artists will be available for purchase.
Francis Hodgson, Photography critic for the ‘Financial Times’, co-founder of the Prix Pictet Prize
About the speakers
Elizabeth Kirwan is the curator/manager of the National Library of Ireland’s National Photographic Archive (NPA). Located in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, the NPA collections comprise approximately 5.2 million photographs, the vast majority of which are Irish. The collection dates from the 1840’s to the present. While the bulk of the collection relates to photojournalism, other subject matter ranges from topographical views to studio portraits, and from political events to early tourist photographs. The Library maintains an active collection development policy, adding constantly to the collections, currently usually by way of generous donations. In 2011 the NLI purchased a collection of photographs by renowned Newry-born artist Seán Hillen. This collection consists primarily of 530 original 35mm black/white negatives taken by the then student photographer, of the North of Ireland between 1979 and 1990. Seán Hillen has indicated that he will make donations of further related material to the NLI in the coming years.
Alex Davis is the Administrator of the Irish Visual Artists Rights Organisation (IVARO), Ireland's copyright collecting society for visual creators. IVARO manages its members rights through our copyright licensing, Artists Resale Right and RETURN services. Alex is also the Advocacy Officer for Visual Artists Ireland (VAI). VAI takes on the key issues that concern professional artists generally in relation to their status, rights and income. Previous roles include Liaison Officer for the Office of Public Works, consultant for the Heritage Council and Schools Coordinator for the National Gallery of Ireland.
Leszek Wolnik is Curator & Strategist at The Copper House Gallery. The Copper House is a Dublin city art resource, dedicated to curating and promoting contemporary photography and Irish art. They are committed to producing and facilitating innovative, challenging art in a dynamic and multi-disciplinary environment. The Copper House Gallery hosts a national centre for photography, of interest to collectors and researchers. The Copper House also contains a fine art printing and publishing house, producing and facilitating a significant range of contemporary Irish art. Affiliated with Fire, the creative resource, The Copper House Gallery was launched in September 2011. The SHOWCASE Artists’ Award is a joint initiative of the Copper House and Gallery of Photography Ireland.
Dónall Curtin is an active supporter and collector of contemporary art in Ireland. He is particularly focused on supporting emerging talent. He established the Curtin O’Donoghue Photographic Prize at the RHA in 2006. The Curtin O’Donoghue prize increased this year to €7,500 euro.
Francis Hodgson is the photography critic for the Financial Times, and has recently undertaken a new column ‘Hodgson’s Choice’ on collecting. He is co-founder and photography specialist of the Prix Pictet, one of the most highly valued prizes in the visual arts. Formerly, he was Head of Photographs at Sotheby's, London. Hodgson is unusual in having worked at a senior level both in the cultural and in the commercial aspects of photography. Hodgson was for some years the manager of the print room at the Photographers’ Gallery in London. He later founded and directed Zwemmer Fine Photographs, a gallery specialised in photography, and has worked with several other galleries. Hodgson was also director of photography at Photonica, a major stock image library, where he was responsible for opening up the stock photography market to more artistic photography than had been considered possible. He was also at one time director of content at Eyestorm, the online art dealership. He has acted as representative and agent to photographers, and has been a writer and broadcaster on photography for many years.
Oliver Sears runs the Oliver Sears Gallery with Jane Norton. The gallery has a contemporary exhibition programme including Irish and non-Irish artists, both emerging and well established. In conjunction with the contemporary programme, the gallery actively deals in the secondary market sourcing specialised works for its collectors. After twenty years of experience, Oliver has gathered considerable expertise in the field of Contemporary and Modern art and is passionate about the subject in all its complexities and contradictions.
Kieran O'Boyle joined Adams Auctioneers in 2002 after completing an honours degree in History of Art and Information Studies and then a Graduate Diploma in Business & Information Technology. He is an Associate Member of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland. Since its foundation in 1887 the company has developed its expertise in many fields and currently offers specialist sales ranging from Important Irish Art, Fine Period Furniture, Silver, Memorabilia and Contemporary & Modern Art, as well as the appraisal and sale of private collections.
Jerome O’Driseoil is the Founder and Director of the Green On Red Gallery, which represents both Irish and international contemporary artists, with particular specialism in video work. Green On Red participates annually in international art fairs and the gallery’s artists regularly exhibit abroad in both private and public venues. Along with its programme of exhibitions at home and abroad, the gallery offers a consultancy service for private and corporate collectors.
Seán Hillen was born in 1961 in Newry, Co. Down. Lives and works in Dublin. Studied at Belfast College of Art, LCP and the Slade School. Now recognised as one of the most significant artists of his generation, Hillen first became known for photomontage works based on his own gritty documentary photos from the Northern Irish 'Troubles', which are now studied as masterworks of the medium. He has also executed commissions and collaborations including music videos, stage design, advertisements, BBC title graphics and permanent sculptures for Citigroup and Dublin City Council. He won the international design competition, with landscape architect Desmond Fitzgerald, for the Omagh Bomb Memorial unveiled in August 2008. His work is in many private and public collections including Permanent Collection of the Imperial War Museum, Newry & Mourne Museum, Wolverhampton Museum, Allied Irish Bank, the Irish State Collection, the European Central Bank, The Irish Central Bank, Citigroup SA, Swiss Re., and Microsoft Ltd. In 2011, the National Library of Ireland acquired the Seán Hillen Collection. Seán is represented by the Oliver Sears Gallery.
Event date
26th January 2013
Gallery information
Opening hours
Open 6 days:
Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 5pm
Open Mondays by appointment for ongoing education, artists archiving and training.
Closed Sundays
Closed for bank holidays and public holidays
Admission is free
Find us
Gallery of Photography Ireland
Meeting House Square,
Temple Bar,
Dublin D02 X406, Ireland