Alison McDonnell
My work over the last number ofyears has focused on the rights denied to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgenderpeople.
[transpose] is a work in progress that documents transgender peoplein environmental portraits in their homes on their own or with their partnersand families. The images have been made together via direction andcollaboration. The work documents ‘safe spaces’ for transgender people inDublin and around the country. Many of the portraits and stills have been madeat the wonderful space Outhouse on Capel Street. Another facet of thisproject involves the documentation of trans activists and allies. It is important to me to have a record of thepeople who are currently denied rights in our country as well as and the peoplewho are fighting for equality. This isimportant to me not only because of identifying as a bisexual woman and anactivist but because the trans* community despite some progress is one of themost marginalised groups in society.
In Ireland transgender people cannot have the gender on their birth certificate changed. Ireland is one of the few EU countries that does not allow for legal recognition of transgender people. Other issues that transgender people face are; forced divorce (many couples have found their relationship is strengthened through a transition and they find themselves faced with having to break up their family), adequate access to healthcare, lack of qualified and knowledgeable doctors (some of the participants in this project have been educating the doctors instead of being helped)......and the list goes on.
The work exposes people in their own environment and portrays that we are all the same. Is it fair to be denied rights, respect and dignity just because of who you are? A question the viewer might consider is how could anyone deny this person any right?
Alison is currently studying on the MFA in photography course at Ulster University. Paul Seawright, Donovan Wiley, Martin Parr, KayLynn Deveney, Doug Dubois and her classmates have all been in one way or another a great source of inspiration. Prior to this she studied on the Photography and Digital Imaging course at the National College of Art and Design and graduated in 2011.
An exhibition of her work is currently on at Outhouse, 105 Capel Street, Dublin 1.