Mark Duffy: Vote No. 1

Mark Duffy: Vote No. 1 by Aline SmithsonNovember 17, 2015

©Mark Duffy

Politicians are on our radar these days, and Irish photographer Mark Duffy captures a humorous look at those with the desire to lead in his series, Vote No. 1. The project reminds us to look a little closer at our candidates and see beyond the heroic presentation of candidates. Vote No. 1 has been released as a book by Anzenberger Editions. The book was selected as the 1st Prize of the Vienna Photo Book Review at the ViennaPhotoBookFestival in June 2015.

©Mark Duffy

Mark is an Irish photographer currently based in London, working on commissions and self-initiated projects. Some of his recent achievements include the 2015 Winner of the Vienna Phonebook Award and being shortlisted for the 2015 Luma Dummy Book Award Arles. In 2014, he was the winner of the Format Festival Review Award. He has shown his work all across Europe with exhibitions in France, Lithuania, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, England, and Ireland.

©Mark Duffy

Vote No.1

The Irish landscape was littered with electoral campaign advertising during the recent European, local and national by-elections. ‘Vote No. 1′ documents this and examines the culture of election advertising in Ireland. The series focuses on the accidental, and often gruesome, disfigurements the electoral candidates’ faces suffer – an unintended consequence of their posters’ erection. These images reflect the Irish electorate’s increasing disillusionment with the political process after years of harshening austerity politics.