As part of the Healing Through Photography conference, Belfast Exposed is delighted to host ‘In the Shadow of the Butterfly Bush’, a compelling new exhibition by acclaimed Northern Irish photographer Gareth McConnell.
Celebrating 25 years of restorative justice
Running from 3 to 25 April in Gallery I, this exhibition has been specially commissioned by Northern Ireland Alternatives to mark over 25 years of the organisation’s transformative work in restorative justice.
Northern Ireland Alternatives is a charity committed to fostering community harmony and repairing social harm through restorative justice practices. This exhibition serves as a powerful artistic reflection of their impact, aligning with Belfast Exposed’s mission to use photography as a tool for social change and dialogue.
A vision of resilience and transformation
McConnell’s ‘In The Shadow Of The Butterfly Bush’ comprises multiple photographic diptychs, arranged in a choreographed format. Each diptych contains two photographs: one of a person who has been supported by Northern Ireland Alternatives, and one of a Butterfly (Buddleia) Bush.
The Butterfly Bush is a common flowering plant and can represent a dichotomy; sometimes viewed as a reviled nuisance weed, symbolising urban and social decay; and sometimes as a greatly welcomed, very attractive and fragrant, garden shrub. McConnell’s depictions of people and butterfly plants give strong emphasis to how identity is subject to the variable relationships of the individual and the group, and explores equivalences and differences between ideas of growth, change, order and confusion, beauty, and hope. The works are highly coloured and technically exciting.
About Gareth McConnell
McConnell is celebrated for working in an unlikely spectrum of subjects that include youth, style and fashion, animals, psychedelia, sectarianism, plants flowers and trees, and addiction and the visual vocabularies of drugs culture. He was born in 1972 in Northern Ireland and grew up during the Troubles.
McConnell’s recent projects include a show about flowers and psychedelia at London’s Seen Fifteen gallery in 2022 and a book and Ulster Museum show To The Beat of The Drum in 2021. Other recent book publications include The Horses (2022). McConnell originated and runs a much admired project imprint called Sorika showcasing his and other artists’ works. His work has been featured and written about in publications such as Aperture, Frieze, and the Guardian, Financial Times and New York Times. He has collaborated with diverse brands such as Chloe, Jo Malone, and Sports Banger.
Explore the exhibition at the Healing Through Photography conference
The exhibition runs alongside the Healing Through Photography conference, which will be held on April 7 and 8 at the MAC theatre. This two-day event brings together leading experts, photographers, and mental health practitioners to explore the therapeutic potential of photography. Featuring keynote speakers such as Judy Weiser and Rosy Martin, as well as interactive workshops and panel discussions, the conference aims to highlight photography’s ability to support mental health recovery, self-expression, and social change.
Visitors to ‘In the Shadow of the Butterfly Bush’ can expect a thought-provoking and visually arresting collection that challenges traditional perceptions of beauty, decay, and regeneration. The exhibition, much like the conference, seeks to spark dialogue on the ways photography can document, process, and heal trauma.
Gareth will be giving an Artist Talk on Monday 7 April which conference attendees can select as one of their workshop sessions.
You can also hear from NI Alternatives as Co-Director Debbie Watters takes to the stage of the MAC on Monday 7 April, discussing the work of the organisation and the importance of Gareth’s exhibition.
Tickets for the conference are available here.