Open Up
Short Film by Niamh Dunne
Aby is having a hard time since losing her ma and her ways of coping aren’t working for her.
She needs to open up…
Vandals or Artists?
Mixed Media by Kai Kelly & Carson Macken
A spray can be used for vandalism & for artwork. There’s a difference between good and bad art work that you can do with spray cans and paint. Sometimes it’s vandalism but you can also make good art pieces.
View the work here
Candour Abstract
Digital Drawings by Carson Arkins
A series capturing the toxic codependency
between dealer and addict; gang violence;
and the presence of dealers
in childrens’ spaces.
View the work here
MAsquerade
Short Film by Charlie Bennett
Sunny is a teen who discovered at a young age that he’s an alien from the Sun. He has to hide it due to his spacist family, but finds comfort in his supportive friend Luna who comes from the Moon.
Childhood
Acrylics on Canvas by Neo Tina
This piece of art is to show that over the years, the essence of childhood has been lost. Nowadays, childhood involves growing up too fast, becoming adults too soon and it is losing its innocence. There is so much pressure for young people growing up now - they are missing out on the playfulness and fun of childhood.
View the work here
Troubleriser
Short Film by Lacey O'Neill
Sabrina and Romi, once close friends, find themselves in a heated argument. The situation worsens when Romi’s friends join in, adding fuel to the fire and putting significant emotional strain on Sabrina.
600 Puffs Later
Mixed Media by Miley Gifford
600 Puffs Later is about the impact vaping has on kids & teenagers. The colours and flavours are imitating sweets and nice foods. The healthy lung is before vaping and the unhealthy lung is after vaping.
View the work here
Seasons of Change
Song & Music Video by Shannon Fallon
This song is about adapting to whatever life throws at you, whether that be friendships, relationships that fade, personal challenges, or unexpected twists. It’s about embracing the unpredictability of life and living in the moment!
View the work here
Stupid Mistakes
Mural by Alex Conway
This piece of art is to show the harmful effect of fast gas. Doing balloons can end life in seconds for people. It can often be fatal and cause serious damage, and potential death. So many young people do it without realising how dangerous it actually is.
View the work here
mentor works
Mentors are existing members of What's Your Issue? who continue with the programme to create new work and/or support new members to develop their ideas.
Our 2023/24 mentors included Kyle, Alannah & Lara
KYLE HOGAN BENNETT is an emerging filmmaker. His previous films, The Eviction, Dead-Eye: Vengeance, and spin-off Helen News, were screened at Fresh Film Festival 2023 and 2024 & Dublin International Film Festival 2023 and 2024. He was awarded a bursary to attend the YIFM residential film school in August 2024. His new film, ‘The Erase’, is his most ambitious work to date.
ALANNAH FLOOD MAGENNIS is a an emerging photographer. She exhibited her series Stuck on Repeat at What’s Your Issue? 2023 and again on invitation at the Child Poverty and Well-being Annual Summit in Dubln Castle in May 2024. Her ongoing interest in exploring and reflecting on drug use in her community is evident in her current work, Normalised.
LARA MURPHY is a visual artist and aspiring fashion designer. In 2023 she exhibited mixed-media sculpture Keep Away From Children highlighting the exploitation of children by vape manufacturers. This year she has focussed on her true passion, fashion design, creating new work, ‘Double-Sided’. Throughout her participation in What’s Your Issue 2023 & 2024, Lara has participated in several short films, supporting her peers, both new members and mentors alike.
The Erase
Short Film by Kyle Hogan Bennett
The Erase shows the effect of neglect and drug use on a young boy in north inner city Dublin. After recently being put into his uncle’s care he sees that his uncle's ‘friends’ overwhelm him, using him and his home for their dealing and trafficking.
View the work here
NORMALISED
Photography Series by Alannah Flood Magennis
The artist uses light and movement to reflect on drug use among young people and how that can look like anything from partying to self-destruction.
View the work here
Double-Sided
Fashion Design by Lara Murphy
This piece is about insecurity, showing a well put together dress from the front, but with a torn up and distressed back. This shows that though you may see someone well put together, they could be really insecure about themselves..
View the work here
Unfinished Work
Several of our young artists developed concepts for artworks this year that are currently unfinished, at varying levels of completion. The artists chose not to exhibit the works in progress, however some documentation of their processes is available to view below.
ACTOR & UNFINISHED WORK
by Meadow Mitchell
Meadow participated throughout the 2023/24 WYI? programme and played main roles in Troubleriser & The Erase. She also developed two unfinished artworks, ‘Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing’ (working title), in collaboration with another participant and an untitled film idea. Both are pictured below.
2024 Catalogue
Welcome to What's Your Issue? 2023/24, our 6th edition of What’s Your Issue?, following exhibitions of work by young artists from Dublin’s north east inner city in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022 & 2023.
The What's Your Issue? programme is built on creative collaboration between young people, youth workers and artists. Participating young artists explore issues relevant to them and are supported to develop skills in art mediums of their choice. They develop their capacities for critical reflection alongside various media and arts skills to conceptualise, shape and share their ideas about issues impacting their lives.
The 2023/24 programme included participation from Ballybough Youth Service, East Wall Youth and SWAN Regional Youth Service, working with lead artist Shireen Shortt. The programme was funded through The Arts Council Young Ensembles Scheme.
What's Your Issue? was originally developed in 2017 out of discussions facilitated by the Arts, Culture and Heritage Sub-Group as part of the NIC Community Coalition meetings at the end of 2016. The project sprang out of discussions with Terry Fagan during the Arts Culture and Heritage Strategy Subgroup meetings; part of the NICCC at the end of 2016. The programme was initiated by artist Katherine Sankey and SWAN Youth Service. We look forward to a bright future of collaboration with more NEIC youth services.
