Fragile Existence
Overcoming Human Weakness

Photographer and filmmaker John O'Donnell will be presenting Fragile Existence on display at The George Street Gallery in Brighton until the 29^th of July.

The images displayed in Fragile Existence are part of an on-going series of nudes taken in the Irish landscape as well as more controlled studio situations. Every image is painstakingly hand-printed and hand-toned with the purpose of reflecting the human form and how it relates to a particular environment and setting.

The lifespan of a single human being is a short one and the aim Fragile Existence is to explore the fleeting moments of the individual lifespan. Delicate and yet beautiful, the work of John O’Donnell proves that life and the physical body are two elements that are perhaps separate in spirit, but should be cherished all the same. His models exist purely in a world where they can be coveted as part of a two-dimensional image, though the viewer is still reminded they are in reality flesh and blood.

Themes range from calmness and serenity to celebration and reflection but always making the landscape and environment an essential part of the overall image. Every photograph is very much about light and shade as well as texture and form. In many ways, John O’Donnell sees the photographs almost as if they were paintings, with careful consideration and planning given to composition as well as an evident timeless mood and dreamlike atmosphere evoked through traditional hand-printing techniques and toning.

The artist, John O'Donnell is from Co. Tipperary in Southern Ireland. Since graduating from Bournemouth Film School in 1990 he has worked as a writer and television director on dramas and documentaries as well as commercials, music videos and television opening sequences. Last year his short film "The First Television" received a nation-wide cinema release as support to "Ladder 49" starring John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix. It was also broadcast coming up to Christmas by RTE along with screening at a number of International Film Festivals including Boston, Los Angeles, Albania, Zimbabwe, Foyle and Cork.

Fragile Existence is John O’Donnell’s first solo exhibition outside of Ireland which will be opened by London poet and musician Tony Maude.