Featured Artist
John Baucher
In the 12 years since John's return to his native Northern Ireland, John Baucher has facilitated photographic workshops across a broad and diverse range of individuals and groups, including Young Offenders, Northern Ireland Council for the Homeless (with Eleanor Wheeler), Travellers throughout the North of Ireland, Visually Impaired Group in Dungannon, young Maori in New Zealand (with assistance from the Auckland Museum) and most recently a group of immigrants in Ballymena.
The experience of working with some of the most marginalised groups in Northern Ireland informs his practice and the inherent themes of Identity and sense of place are as much to do with him as his subjects. This brings an informed and sympathetic eye to Baucher's practice which is intuitive and candid in style.
This is evident in his recent book 'Look around Laganside' an 18 month photographic study of the Laganside designated area of Belfast. With an emphasis on how people are appropriating the city centre and reclaiming the streets, the book shows Belfast in a new light, at a time of regeneration and rapid change with some surprising and unfamiliar views of Belfast. As part of the commission from Laganside Corporation, every Public library recieved a copy of the book free.
John is currently working with Kabosh Theatre Company, researching images for a forthcoming production 'Henry and Harriet' by Carlo Gebler which is to be premiered at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in May 2007. John is also researching a number of different portraiture projects whilst exploring other avenues of visual story telling.
For more images and information visit www.johnbaucher.com
