Photo Museum Ireland
Artist In Residence
Ishmael Claxton
The Migration project is a series of portraits based on the ever-changing landscape of the world. The project began in Ireland in 2015 when I saw the poor conditions throughout Europe and heard the public’s opinions on migrants. People are migrating around the world now more than ever and each person or group has their own reason. This series is about an individual’s transformation in the new world and how they retain their identities while attempting to take on a new one.
The first part of the series was photographed in Ireland. I started to take pictures of people from a broad spectrum of ethnicities, from India, Africa, Eastern Europe, and South America.Also including first generation Irish.The images took place in different locations using various light sources, such as natural and studio light, or a mix, to best fit the person – tracing the various ways in which people integrate and make cross-culture connections in their new homes.
The photographs have many layers: first, a gaze into each one’s personality; second, while sitting for the session each person is asked a series of questions that reveal more about them. The project weaves the various elements together to create a whole new and different perspective to the standard portrait.In September 2018, I returned to Morocco to continue the project from a completely different perspective. This time my focus was on sub-Saharan Africans. I traveled to Casablanca refugee camps and then met an artist, actors, and an architect. I moved on to Tangier to meet more people who are trying to cross the border or have already made attempts. The wide range of individuals have allowed me to hear compelling stories of intergrading into Moroccan culture or still trying to reach to the promise land of Europe.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY:
Ishmael Claxton is a photographer born in New York and living in Dublin for 10 years.
Ishmael turned to photography as a means of expression and embarked on his career as a professional visual artist. He continues to challenge his audience by raising awareness about issues like in ‘Migration/ Integration’ series and Capall Gang series. By holding a mirror up to society, his aim is to make sense of the every changing world. Also one of the Cofounders of ÍOVA Club, photographers led Club that gives voice to image makers. The group has done three Culture Night group shows, presentations, gallery visits all to help build the photography community in Ireland.
He has exhibited widely, both in Ireland and internationally, and in 2023 was in 39 exhibitions which included Outset Gallery, 126 Galway and Rua Red Gallery, Carlow Visual, Ulster Museum. His portrait of artist Sean Hillen was selected for the Lens Culture Portrait Choice Awards 2023. He had a solo exhibition in 2022 in Gallery X, Dublin and round rabbit, Dublin 2023 and National Concert Hall and Irish Georgian Society 2024.
