Holyhead -Sea Change?
by Robert Law
portfolio shortlisted call 'URBANAUTICA INSTITUTE AWARDS 2020', 2020
Category: People and Communities
Holyhead is a fiercely independently-minded town in North Wales with a proud, close community and rich heritage. It’s a major seaport and gateway to the Republic of Ireland, yet overlooked and underinvested over the years whilst facing increasing economic challenges. In common with many coastal towns in the UK, Holyhead voted to leave the European Union. This is despite its obvious maritime connections and the many EU-funded projects that can be seen throughout the area. This could present a paradox for the outsider and perhaps, by observing and documenting Holyhead as honestly as possible, we can start to gain some understanding?
This project has been ongoing for a few years, eschewing the stereotypical images of the area and documenting the otherwise unseen. In order to make the project grow beyond simply documenting ‘place’, portraits of local people were included, adding a rich narrative and revealing strong community cohesion.