The 19th Century Irish Famine was caused by potato blight in a country where one third of the population was entirely dependent on the potato for food; it was exacerbated by political, social and economic factors resulting in the death of approximately 1 million people, and the emigration of another million, causing the population to fall by more than 20%.
The ‘Famine’ sculptures were designed and crafted by the Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie in 1997. Their position on Custom House Quay, is close to where the ship ‘Perserverance’, made one of the first voyages of the time, sailing from Custom House Quay to New York on St. Patrick’s Day, 1846, with 210 passengers.
I felt that it was more appropriate to the story to shoot the sculptures on a stormy and cloudy day – it was a rather gloomy time – and incorporate some contrasting hints of Irish life from 150 years later.
I know not at all your country George, even if I know well the Scotland and a big part of England. These two statues are magnificent and strangely situated in the city. I would have almost imagined to see them settled by the sea. Thank you for making me discover your country through your images.
Interesting picture..so much to see if I look carefully! The couple looks so sad and worn out. Hardened in a sad way. And then you have the colorful house in the background screaming for attention .. the heavy sky bear witness that storm is closing in. It is an overwhelming picture in so many ways! Nicely captured!
Beautiful sculptures treated sensitively and gracefully. As Anneli says, the frame holds lots of interesting details, some of which contradict each other, making for an intriguingly complex image. I bet many of the starving people questioned the truth of “Jesus Lives”!
WOW, first of all kudos to the sculptor. What a brilliant piece of work. The face expressions, the pose tell us so much of the life that people might have faced.
Photographing them on a story day is truly a good thought to get the dark & sad feel.
I would only say that the background buildings could have been more old looking than the modern glass one.
It breaks my heart to read the background, George, as though for the first time. You have made an incredible photographic commentary on this tragic history…especially on a stormy, cloudy day.
Just a brilliant composition George. The suffering must have been unimaginable, but we can feel a hint of it by the expressions on the sculpture faces. The background offers much to contemplate, from the hollow religious message, to the old/new symbols of the architecture. The lamp reminds me of a bell, calling for those who suffer to gather for departure, to the possibility of a better life. The overall mood matches the subject. Such a thought provoking image, masterfully rendered!
The history part interests me. We learned about the potato famine in school history lessons. It’d be intriguing to know what percent of the people these days rely on the potato as food and what agricultural technological advances have made the possibility of potato blight being eradicated.
I like this shot very much, george. Many interesting elements to it, especially to know that Jesus lives, still, and that he is close to the colourful jigsawed building next door. I have no doubt he would feel part of the bigger jigsaw picture! The mood is wonderfully gloomy. Excellent.
Great how you framed this extraordinarily shot, not to much blur so we can read in the back “Jesus Lives” perfect in contrast to the sculpture in front. Bravo!
24 comments in “sculpture 2”
February 11th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
The 19th Century Irish Famine was caused by potato blight in a country where one third of the population was entirely dependent on the potato for food; it was exacerbated by political, social and economic factors resulting in the death of approximately 1 million people, and the emigration of another million, causing the population to fall by more than 20%.
The ‘Famine’ sculptures were designed and crafted by the Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie in 1997. Their position on Custom House Quay, is close to where the ship ‘Perserverance’, made one of the first voyages of the time, sailing from Custom House Quay to New York on St. Patrick’s Day, 1846, with 210 passengers.
I felt that it was more appropriate to the story to shoot the sculptures on a stormy and cloudy day – it was a rather gloomy time – and incorporate some contrasting hints of Irish life from 150 years later.
February 11th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
I know not at all your country George, even if I know well the Scotland and a big part of England. These two statues are magnificent and strangely situated in the city. I would have almost imagined to see them settled by the sea. Thank you for making me discover your country through your images.
February 11th, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Interesting picture..so much to see if I look carefully! The couple looks so sad and worn out. Hardened in a sad way. And then you have the colorful house in the background screaming for attention .. the heavy sky bear witness that storm is closing in. It is an overwhelming picture in so many ways! Nicely captured!
February 11th, 2013 at 6:24 pm
Beautiful sculptures treated sensitively and gracefully. As Anneli says, the frame holds lots of interesting details, some of which contradict each other, making for an intriguingly complex image. I bet many of the starving people questioned the truth of “Jesus Lives”!
February 11th, 2013 at 6:52 pm
WOW, first of all kudos to the sculptor. What a brilliant piece of work. The face expressions, the pose tell us so much of the life that people might have faced.
Photographing them on a story day is truly a good thought to get the dark & sad feel.
I would only say that the background buildings could have been more old looking than the modern glass one.
February 11th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
It breaks my heart to read the background, George, as though for the first time. You have made an incredible photographic commentary on this tragic history…especially on a stormy, cloudy day.
February 11th, 2013 at 9:03 pm
What an extraordinarily beautiful image. The stark details of the figures against the richly toned background is a really unbeatable combination!
February 11th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
A beautiful composition with the two statues there … beautiful and good photo.
February 11th, 2013 at 10:01 pm
A powerful story being told here with your image. Excellent work, George!
February 12th, 2013 at 7:20 am
Excellent capture. The sky announcing bad weather fits to the sad story the sculptures should remind of.
February 12th, 2013 at 9:10 am
Très émouvant !
Belle photo George !
Joyeux Mardi-gras
amicalement, Anne
February 12th, 2013 at 11:50 am
Just a brilliant composition George. The suffering must have been unimaginable, but we can feel a hint of it by the expressions on the sculpture faces. The background offers much to contemplate, from the hollow religious message, to the old/new symbols of the architecture. The lamp reminds me of a bell, calling for those who suffer to gather for departure, to the possibility of a better life. The overall mood matches the subject. Such a thought provoking image, masterfully rendered!
February 12th, 2013 at 5:29 pm
really an intense opera, i like how you captured point of viex, beautiful and interesting
February 13th, 2013 at 9:08 am
Des sculptures superbes, j’aime l’atmosphère de ce cliché et le cadrage excellent !
)
Bonne journée George
February 13th, 2013 at 6:47 pm
Great shot. I like these sculptures and love the park.
February 14th, 2013 at 12:50 am
yes, the stormy skies is fitting. the sculptor did an amazing job. love that colorful building in the distance.
February 14th, 2013 at 10:12 am
So intense !
February 14th, 2013 at 11:00 am
Such a far cry from the sleek, modern glass and metal structures behind them. The horror!
February 15th, 2013 at 8:22 am
The history part interests me. We learned about the potato famine in school history lessons. It’d be intriguing to know what percent of the people these days rely on the potato as food and what agricultural technological advances have made the possibility of potato blight being eradicated.
I like this shot very much, george. Many interesting elements to it, especially to know that Jesus lives, still, and that he is close to the colourful jigsawed building next door. I have no doubt he would feel part of the bigger jigsaw picture! The mood is wonderfully gloomy. Excellent.
February 19th, 2013 at 11:51 am
j’adore quand la sculpture décore la ville. Belle composition.
February 20th, 2013 at 4:24 am
lovely colour in the background splits a rather bleak and dark image. good touch.
February 28th, 2013 at 9:13 am
Great how you framed this extraordinarily shot, not to much blur so we can read in the back “Jesus Lives” perfect in contrast to the sculpture in front. Bravo!
February 28th, 2013 at 12:30 pm
Great frame ! Great photo !
March 12th, 2013 at 6:54 am
Waouh il y a les mêmes sculptures à Toronto
sur le “frontharbour”.
J’ai été impressionné.
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