How reliable is historical documentary? Levi Hanes examines Turner Prize Winner Duncan Campbell’s filmic presentation of this question at IMMA this winter
Born in Dublin in 1972 Duncan Campbell completed his BA at the University of Ulster, Belfast in 1996 and his MFA at the Glasgow School of Art in 1998. Now living and working in Glasgow, Campbell has shown in numerous prestigious international institutions and is currently nominated for the 2014 Turner Prize. Drawing on his time spent in Northern Ireland, Campbell produced two films that address the politics and economics of the region. Bernadette (2008) presents a biopic of the controversial republican MP Bernadette Devlin and Make it New John (2009) covers the creation and eventual closure of the DeLorean automobile plant in Dunmurry (creators of the gull-wing door car of Back to the Future, 1985 fame). Campbell’s film Arbeit (2011) extended his focus to the developments of the European project with a personalized biography of German economist Hans Tietmeyer.
With the recent passing of Ronald Tallon, Seán Ó Laoire reflects on the end of an era and remembers Michael Scott, founder and charismatic figurehead of Scott Tallon Walker
Catherine Marshall assesses the unwavering artistic journey of Maria Simonds-Gooding in advance of her retrospective in Dublin
The class of 2014 is looking anew to the tangible joys of creativity, in contrast to its documentation, writes Gerry Walker of the trends emerging from this year’s graduate shows.