Uncover, photographer Brian Teeling’s new exhibition, is consciously rooted within the cultural context of a new Ireland, an Ireland that is more socially progressive than ever before. This Ireland voted for marriage equality in 2015 and to repeal the eighth amendment this year, only twenty five-years after the decriminalisation of homosexuality. We are subtly reminded of this fact throughout the exhibition of over 50 portraits of LGBT Irish people, as several portrait subjects sport repeal merchandise. Yet it is still an Ireland that has had to fight long and hard for social change, and a country that still has a long way to go, something else which is quite evident in this collection of photography.

Teeling’s subjects were encouraged to choose the location and context of their portraits themselves, allowing them a great freedom of personal expression. Some opted to have their faces obscured to emphasise the lack of visibility that the LGBT community are given, cleverly done with strategically placed hair, cats, traffic cones and leaves. Granting artistic control to those being photographed was certainly beneficial to the outcome of the pictures, all of which oozed personality and vivacity. This is commendable on Teeling’s part, and  established the exhibition as an authentic attempt to grant the LGBT community more visibility rather than an opportunity for self-promotion.

Lighting plays a central role in these photographs. It is used as a tool to express both mood and character, and is varied to suit its subject in each portrait. As a whole, these photographs have subdued, oppressive lighting, in keeping with the theme of lack of visibility. However, there are a few brighter photographs scattered amongst the dark, preventing the overall tone from becoming excessively sombre. Adam Shanley, the director of Gay Switchboard Ireland, is barely visible through the shadows of his portrait, writer and healthcare worker Rob Partridge bathes in severe, artificial light, and former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh is radiant in natural sunlight. Teeling skilfully strikes a balance between capturing the difficulties that the LGBT community faces and buoyantly celebrating LGBT identity.

The diversity of the LGBT community is also a major theme, and Uncover is an attempt to showcase this diversity. It is wonderful that people working in such multifarious careers were featured and likewise, it is refreshing that the majority of these people are not celebrities or household names. However, this also means that often you may not realise who you are looking at in the portraits as no information is provided about them beyond their names, which exist as almost an afterthought in tiny print underneath the pictures. The impact would have been much stronger and the extent of their diversity highlighted if further information was given about these people and their influence and impact. While the exhibition was a genuine attempt to demonstrate variety, there was a noticeable under-representation of elderly people, people from poorer socio-economic backgrounds or of different ethnicities.

Uncover is also a tribute to the vital contributions that the LGBT community has made and is making to Irish society. Their contribution to politics and social activism is marked in the portraits of LGBTQ+ activist Bella Fitzpatrick, Senator Fintan Warfield and senator and civil rights activist David Norris. Their achievements in the arts is paid tribute to with portraits that include the film director Ian Power, performance artist Xnthony, musician Claire Miskimmin and writer and actor Sonya Kelly. As well as these, there are florists, drag artists, entrepreneurs, broadcasters, designers, curators and photographers galore.

Essentially, Uncover is all about questioning and discrediting assumptions, showing us that LGBT identity is about so much more than the stereotypes. It was a wonderful contribution to the events and festivities of Dublin’s Pride week, literally ‘uncovering’ Ireland’s vast and diverse LGBT community to grant them the visibility that they deserve. The money raised by the exhibition goes to the LGBT+ helpline Gay Switchboard Ireland, helping the cause even beyond the gallery walls.

Uncover is exhibited in The Library Project, 4 Temple Bar Street, Dublin 2, until July 1st.