‘Peter creates works of art that give lifelong pleasure’
John McColgan tells Barry Egan why he loves photographer Peter Gordon’s work
RIVERDANCE impresario John McColgan will officially open Irish Light — a new ground-breaking photography exhibition that draws the finest professional landscape photographers in Ireland together for the first time — at the CHQ building in Dublin this Wednesday. The multi-awardwinning guru, who has been taking photographs since he was in his early teens, took photographs in the Gaza Strip earlier this year for the charity Trócaire and had an exhibition of his sea landscapes in 2015 in Howth.
He told the Sunday Independent that he was excited about the collection for the work of his friend, acclaimed photographer Peter Gordon, who has conceived and curated this innovative collection.
“I sought out Peter Gordon four years ago when I decided to take my photography more seriously. Since then, Peter has been my mentor and inspiration. I’ve been to Iceland, Croatia, Scotland, Galway and Donegal with Peter’s landscape photographic expeditions. I have learned so much, to see with new eyes to capture light, to see light and landscapes in a new way — to improve technique, but more importantly to connect with landscapes and nature in an emotional way,” said McColgan.
“Photography gives purpose and reason to travel to beautiful and exotic places and has brought new meaning and creative pleasure to my life. It is an honour to open Peter Gordon’s exhibition. It is fine art photography, he is a regular European and Irish photographer of the year. He creates works of art that will give lifelong pleasure,” said McColgan, who has given a bit of lifelong pleasure himself for the 100 million people across the world who have gone to see Riverdance.
Taking place across Ireland, Irish Light will also feature “simultaneous workshops taking place along the Wild Atlantic Way from Donegal to Cork” as well as talks etc; the theme of this year’s inaugural Irish Light is ‘Atlantic Reach’.
To enjoy Peter Gordon’s exhibition — and the works of Ireland’s top landscape photographers at Irish Light — visit the CHQ building at IFSC, Dublin 1 from September 15 to October 2.