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The
Maze, a photographic exhibition by Magnum photographer
Donovan Wylie, opened at the Belfast Exposed gallery
to a packed 250+ crowd on Friday 12 March. Included
in the crowd were several well-known ex-prisoners
including Martin Meehan and city councillor Alban
Magennis.
The
exhibition represents a photographic exploration of
one of the world’s most famous prisons. For nearly
thirty years the Maze prison, near the small town
of Maze, ten miles outside Belfast, played a unique
role in the Northern Ireland troubles. Built in 1976
at the instruction of Merlyn Rees, Secretary of State
for Northern Ireland, to house ‘special category’
prisoners. It became a microcosm of the political
conflict in Northern Ireland, with prisoners segregated
according to their political beliefs and membership
of paramilitary organizations. It was the scene of
violent protests, hunger strikes, mass escapes and
deaths of both prisoners and prison staff.
The
exhibition is just one of a series of events being
hosted by Belfast Exposed Photography around the theme
of the prison including several film screenings and
public discussions.
On
Wednesday, 7 April, the Belfast Exposed Gallery will
host a public discussion around the future of the
Maze, which is not only subject to normal economic
and planning constraints but also conflicting interpretations
of the site’s historical meaning. Included on
the panel for discussion are, historian Kevin Bean,
Mike Ritchie director of Coiste na n-larchini, Dr
Stephen King, journalist and political advisor to
David Trimble, and Josie Appleton, culture editor
for spiked-online.com.
Donovan
Wylie and Pauline Hadaway
Venue: Belfast Exposed | Exchange Place | 23 Donegall
Street | BELFAST BT1 2FF
Gallery Opening: Mon – Fri 10am – 5pm |
Sat 11am-5pm
Admission: Free
Web: www.belfastexposed.org
For further information please contact Karen Downey
or Leander Harding at Belfast Exposed Photography
on 028 9023 0965 or email info@belfastexposed.com
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