Buí
Misty rain, slippery stones, a morning dip in the water.
A slice of toast, kitchen chats, the thrill of a beaded headpiece.
Patchwork bedspreads, cabbages, shells sticking together.
In a world of our own for a while, appreciating but probably not quite fully realising how restorative it was. Sharing stories and sharing meals, tiny details considered.
A day of rain, a day of sun, two seasons all rolled into one memory.
About Buí
The images of this series Buí were created in commune with the place and the time, with the weather, the light, the fashion and the magic company. Mother, daughter, friend, sister and each of these roles combined; some tangled, some seamless, all made better by being together.
The location lends itself to stillness on sloping hills, in a bay, on the edge of the water, disrupted no doubt by our presence but also happy to host our curious approach to life. Lace on stone walls, brocade in the kitchen, taffeta in the bog, every room inhabited with chatter and activity, stillness before the camera.
Photographer Doreen Kilfeather imbues the series with these moments, not always visible to the eye. She sees the details of life which others might walk by. Challenging, responding and collaborating, Elsa is familiar with her mother’s technique. Both standing her ground and finding her ground she is our heroine in a time that stands still. The fashion pieces, flown in from London could have been born in this place. Shells from the sea, crystal falling like rain, crown of nature, crispy cotton, structure, softness, presence. Selected by stylist Aisling Farinella they enhance the images with a naturalistic approach.
Taking its title from the location, Buí is the Irish word for yellow, a colour associated with hope. The bright yellow flower of the gorse plant is seen from the side of the road all over Ireland. In our folklore it is closely connected to women who used the flower to hand dye cloth and make potions and all sorts of medicines, as well as a general tonic – which we hope these images achieve.
Doreen Kilfeather
Doreen Kilfeather is a Dublin-based photographer specialising in portraiture and fashion photography.
A deep understanding of light and shadow, and a sense of intimacy and connection define her work. Her personal projects focus on her family and friends and their children. She returns to these communities of friends each year to document the feeling of being a child, an adolescent, a young adult, in portraits that capture both the person and a sense of the place they occupy.
Her work has been featured in publications such as Irish Tatler, Image, Cara, The Gloss, Boys by Girls and Faire magazine.
@dkilfeather/ dkilfeatherphotography.com
Aisling Farinella is a stylist, creative director and consultant working across fashion and cultural platforms. A sought after stylist, her work is featured in prominent Irish and international publications, working closely with leading Irish artistic talents, designers and clients. Her individual styling aesthetic is conveyed through a naturalistic approach and a love for elevating portraiture through fashion.
Aisling is Consulting Fashion Editor at Irish Tatler, a Board Director of the IDI and course lead for the CFA NCAD Professional Diploma in Fashion Communication. She was editor and co-creative director of Thread (2011-2018).
@aisfarinella/ aislingfarinella.com
Publication Details:
Photographer: Doreen Kilfeather
Stylist: Aisling Farinella
Model: Elsa Murray
Photographed on location at Bothar Buí and the local area in West Cork, Ireland.
Fashion: Simone Rocha AW20 & SS21 Collections, and model's own
Words: Aisling Farinella
Publication Design: Keith Nally
Printed by KOPA, Lithuania
Published by THREAD Editions, Ireland.
Printed in an edition of 260