Achill by Numbers A First Selection

WHEN Bob Kingston was assembling a tourist guide to sites of interest on Achill, he produced a map with 83 numbered sites which he felt reflected the character of the island. Eight years on, Dutch photographer Willem Vermaase has used these numbered sited as the locations for a series of large scale black and white photographs in Achill by Numbers - A First Selection, Vermaase has approached the locations in a number of different ways, sometimes documenting, at other times: juxtaposing elements to add particular - and occasionally slightly wry - commentary. A number of the works have primarily compositional concerns, while others rely on the island's unavoidable atmosphere. Although mindful of history, the works have a definite sense of the present.

Since the days of Paul Henry, untold numbers of artists have visited Achill and with the eyes of the outsider attempted to capture the island's elusive character. Vermaase has to some extent avoided the subjectivity usually associated with these attempts and as a result has captured some of the flavour of contemporary unromanticised Achill without denying its enduring power to fascinate.

. Runs until September 1st.