Hand with opium pods, 1996

Harry Thuillier Jr.

About the Artist:

Dublin-born Harry Thuillier Jr (1964-1997) studied photography in Memphis College of Art and completed his BA in Fine

Art Photography in Boston before studying under Jerry Uellsmann in Florida. On his return to Dublin, he took up large format photography and honed his skills in the complex and demanding art of Platinum/Palladium printing – a difficult, painstaking process that dates from the very beginnings of photography. His subject matter was noted for its particular darkness: ancient skulls, limbs decorated with opium pods and ethereal, otherworldly nudes. Garnered on endless, restless journeying, his images have the air of being snatched in extremis. They are things at the edges of the world, the fringes of experience. Thuillier continued to develop his compelling and fascinating work until his tragic death in Milan in December 1997. A posthumous major retrospective of Thuillier’s work was staged in the Gallery of Photography Ireland in 2000.

Details: Reproduction from the toned silver gelatin original, archival pigment inkjet print on Hahnemühle Photo Baryta, 50x60cm (paper size), uneditioned print, produced 2021, acquired for the National Photography Collection 2022. Courtesy Ken Walsh, image © the Estate of Harry Thuillier Jr.

About the National Photography Collection:

The National Photography Collection builds on the Gallery’s sustained commitment to supporting artists in the development and promotion of their work. Through collaboration, we hope to grow the collection as an archive repository offering an overview of photographic practice in Ireland.

As an essential critical and historical resource, the National Photography Collection is an exciting initiative for the Gallery and for the future of Irish photography. We are deeply honoured that the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins has agreed to be Patron of the Collection.

The artists featured in the Collection are:
Ciarán Óg Arnold; Enda Bowe; Noel Bowler; Ala Buisir; Simon Burch; Dorje de Burgh; Krass Clement; Shia Conlon; Martin Cregg; Mark Curran; Ciaran Dunbar; John Duncan; Tessy Ehiguese; David Farrell; Kevin Fox; Paul Gaffney; Clare Gallagher; Emer Gillespie; Karl Grimes; Anthony Haughey; Seán Hillen; Patrick Hogan; Tobi Isaac-Irein; Dragana Jurišić; Jamin Keogh; Jialin Long; Markéta Luskačová; Shane Lynam; Alen MacWeeney; Dara McGrath; Moira McIver; Yvette Monahan; Tony Murray; Brian Newman; Kate Nolan; Miriam O'Connor; Kenneth O'Halloran; Mandy O'Neill; Tony O'Shea; Pete Smyth; Nigel Swann; Harry Thuillier Jr; George Voronov and Róisín White.