In Conversation with artist Suella Holland and writer Emilie Pine

Focusing on the photographic works by Suella Holland on display in the Café Gallery, this informal discussion and Q&A will explore memory and the artistic and personal processes that led to this exhibition.

Looking at photography as a tool of documentation and self-expression, writer and university lecturer Emilie Pine will engage photographic artist Suella Holland in conversation about her choice of subject matter, questioning how she uses the medium of photography to communicate subjects that are difficult to express verbally.

Together they will consider the exhibition title A Joining of Self, how everyday items, the familiar, nostalgic, can hold such deep meanings and memories.

Listening to the subconscious, both artist and writer will reflect on the emotional bravery and instinctive trust one must engage to make visible and public ones emotional self.

Content Warning: Holland's exhibition and this accompanying talk contain references to themes of child abuse, paedophilia, and incest, which some individuals may find distressing. If affected, please contact One in Four on 01 662 4070.

Emilie Pine is a writer and university lecturer based in Dublin. Emilie’s work focuses on memory and performance, and she has published widely as a critic and academic. In recent years, Emilie has focussed on creative projects, including the novel Ruth & Pen (winner of the Kate O’Brien Award, 2023), the plays Good Sex and All Hardest of Woman, and her bestselling memoir, Notes to Self (winner of the An Post Irish Book of the Year, 2018), which has been translated into 15 languages.

Suella Holland is an Irish photographic artist whose work addresses dissociation, repetition, manipulation, long-silenced issues of childhood abuse and, ultimately, hope. She has a strong interest in crafts and combines stitching with her photographs to non-verbally communicate subjects that are difficult to express in words. She is a Board Member of The Darkroom, Dublin, and member of Visual Artists Ireland. She has received bursaries from Meath and Cavan County Councils. Her work is in the collections of both Councils, the Kells Type Trail Archive and private collections worldwide. Working in publishing, she holds an MFA in Photography from Ulster University. In 2023, she was nominated for a PhotoIreland RADAR Award and a Star Photobook Dummy Award.