Alison McDonnell
ABOUT
My work over the last number of years has focused on the rights denied to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. Work has been published by Amnesty International, Diageo, Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), PinkNews and other non profits/commercial organisations. Images from Transgender Ireland have been published in the landmark publication "Touching the Surface - Trans Voices in Ireland" and "Equality and Identity" which were produced by TENI. The work has been exhibited in various galleries across Ireland and the UK.
[transpose] is a current work in progress that documents transgender people in environmental portraits in their homes on their own or with their partners and families. The images have been made together via direction and collaboration. The work documents ‘safe spaces’ for transgender people in Dublin and around the country. Many of the portraits and stills have been made at the wonderful space Outhouse on Capel Street. Another facet of this project involves the documentation of trans activists and allies. It is important to me to have a record of the people who are currently denied rights in our country as well as and the people who are fighting for equality. This is important to me not only because I identify as a bisexual woman and an activist but because the trans* community is one of the most 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.
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 helped guide and inspire the work. 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.