Photographic Project : Street Violence in Dublin

mconlon

Photographic Project : Random Acts Of Violence in Dublin

I have been living in Dublin on and off for over eight years, in that time I have been attacked on the street three times. Considered in relation to some locations this may not seem a lot, however Dublin is a small city which seem each day to be getting all the more violent. The Garda (Irish Police) seem to be unable or uninterested in doing something constructive about relieving the sense of paranoia and fear felt when simply walking down the street in this supposed fair city. Violent crime has more resonance as an offense against the individual rather than an offense against the state, which is the official charge. After all the state is not the one waking up in the middle of the night for the aftermath of an unprovoked assault. The state does not become a nervous wreck when simple walking home from the shops for fear of getting clobbered and whats more judging by the poor response of it's public office holders the state will not be the one to take some constructive action or at least bring this pandemic of fear to a point where it is in open discussion.

At present many countries are adopting a policy of restorative justice in relation to violent crime. The British home office for example is employing a method whereby offenders are brought face to face with their victims or the families of those who have died as a result of violent crime. Through victim/offender dialogue the crime is personalized. Offenders learn the human cost of their actions, thus giving the offender an understanding of the impact their violent behaviour has on the lives of others and the society in which they live. It has also been found to aid the healing process of the victim.

As a photographer and a past victim of violence I am beginning a process through which I intend to try and communicate directly with those who perpetrate violent crimes. As yet there is no process of restorative justice open to victims of violence in the Rep of Ireland. I intend therefore to ask those who have been attacked to have their portrait taken. Or rather I will set up the camera and have them photograph themselves as i feel this is the only way to truly get an honest and direct expression. I would then propose displaying these portraits on either bus shelters in Dublin city or through other public display methods such as beermats. I will let the subject write down their experience and what they would like to say to those who assaulted them. I am not doing this a means of starting trouble but rather to hold a mirror up to an ongoing problem which affects all citizens of this city, both the victim and the perpetrator. Also that which angered me most in regards to my own attack was that I had no way of communicating with those who attacked me. They simply ran into the darkness of the night safe in the knowledge that little would be done for an offence which has become to common place to bother with.

I would be grateful of any suggestions, opinions or experiences you may have in this regard, both from within and outside Ireland. Most of all I would like to start a dialogue through which we can begin to understand the reasons for the state of fear in which we live and how we may begin to overcome it's insidious effects. I do not want this images and texts to become symbols of fear but rather an act of resistance to a situation which has gone on for far to long.

Please feel free to contact me @ randomactsofviolence@ymail.com

mconlon

I’m still trying to decide whether I’ll work with people who bare the scars of past-unprovoked attack or try and photograph those who have been attacked more recently. I am drawn to using the more resent immediate images as I think they place the situation in the present, however as it has been ongoing I may also mix past attack images. I do not want to use these very graphic images of traumatized victims as a type of trauma porn, however I feel the severity of the situation merits graphic images and as an act of resistance and in order to evoke public discussion these photographs should be as close to the moment as possible. They are after all the truth of the matter, if the victim has to look at their blooded and bruised reflection as an unwanted reminder of an unwanted act, I feel it is only right the attacker should be shown the true unmediated results of their callous and cowardly actions. I would like to think there is an inherent humanity in each person, perhaps through these images this empathy/sense of shame can be reached and possibly change any future violent acts on their behalf.

mconlon

Essentially I am posting here in order to help my own thought process in regard to this project. I see this project as being reaction to the violent community in which we live. i.e. Dublin, therefore I feel it's fitting to hammer out the best possible modes of public presentation of this project and also as a means of finding people willing to share their experiences either through text or being photographed. I am not waiting for people to get attacked, however with over 600 muggings in Dublin last year according to Garda records it seems unfortunately as if I will not have a shortage of subjects, to these people after having been a victim of street violence I can only wish the strength to them to get past this random act and through my portraits offer them a possible chance to engage with their image and text to their all to often faceless and uncaught assailant. The thing that bothered me most as I have said above is that I did not get the basic right to at least know my attackers face, that which angered me most way that I could not answer their action back in some way. A chance to resist this situations seemed social acceptance and answer back to those who partake thoughtlessly in these behaviors is what I hope with your help to achieve. Regards and please keep passing on advise, links etc.mconlon, also you can contact me at randomactsofviolence@ymail.com