Top hairdresser Paul Stafford steps back to his roots Belfast – born celebrity hairdresser Paul Stafford took a step back in time today as he viewed the poignant images of Ireland at the ‘Magnum Ireland’ exhibition in the Ormeau Baths Gallery.
Inspired by the photographs taken of the Divis Flats in the late 1970s, Paul, who grew up on the Falls Road reminisced about his upbringing and experiences in the area. “I remember Divis well, the streets, the people, children swinging round the lampposts; at the time, it seemed to be the best playground in the world.” The ‘Magnum Ireland’ exhibition shows 150 photographs taken by some of the world’s most celebrated photographers including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Josef Koudelka and Eve Arnold. The images plot the history of the transition in people’s lives from peaceful rural life in the 1950s, through the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ in the 1970s and ’80s, and into the growing confidence and prosperity of Ireland in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Viewing the photographs, Paul remarked, “These are amazing images – they’re not staged, it’s how life was and they deserve to be seen as great pieces of art.” ‘Magnum Ireland’, at the Ormeau Baths Gallery is open Tuesday – Saturday, 10am-6pm, until Saturday 16 th September. “This is your last chance to see this tremendous exhibition charting six decades of life in Northern Ireland,” said Iain Davidson, Visual Arts Officer at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, “We’re hosting the last exhibition talk on Friday 8 th September, so if you haven’t seen the Magnum show already, come and learn all about it.” |
