ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVE:
BILL KIRK
Interviewed by Richard West
Location: Artist's home, Newtownards, County Down
Date: March 2006

Still taken from: 'Sandy Row' by Peter O'Doherty

Still taken from: 'Sandy Row' by Peter O'Doherty

Chapter 7:

(Chapter 7 of 15, Running Time: 00:13:00)

Chapter 7 Synopsis:

  • Enrolls in a practical photography course at the College of Art in York Street.
  • Allowed to pursue documentary photography.
  • Admired work of fellow student Arthur Watson who was also taking documentary photographs.
  • Tutors suspicious of the sociological aspect of his work.
  • Working on Sandy Row provides opportunity to observe the sectarian nature of things.
  • Met Gilles Perez around this time.
  • Took a lot of street photography - photograph of midwife - 'innocently politically aware'.
  • Motivated by the possibility of having a show.
  • Invited, along with Arthur Watson, to put on a show at the Arts Council in Bedford Street.
  • Political content of show creates a lot of controversy.
  • Show tours to English gallery - staff, believing gallery would be bombed, go on strike.

Other articles mentioning Bill Kirk:

Other articles on photography from the 'Documentary' category »