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Meet The Artist: Steve Ryan
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Steve Ryan got into photography after watching the movie Office Space. He quit his job at a bank and got busy with a camera. The shots we've got on the site are of Steve's trip to the Mon refugee village in North West Thailand. The Mon's are an indigenous group persecuted by the Burmese military junta. Steve spent three days on chicken buses and fought malaria with his fists just to find them. He missed out the best full-moon party of the season in the process. Steve is based in Dublin but could doesn't seem to ever spend more than two weeks in a row in the place. He balances his time between fighting the good fight for refugees, children and the marginalised with chasing girls and looking good at music festivals.
Has your job ever got you laid, free drink, arrested?
People sometimes buy me beer cos they think I don’t make enough money – Maybe it’s cos I don’t wear a suit.
What did you want to be as a kid?
I always wanted to be a pilot with Irish Air Corps but my eyes weren’t good enough… so I became a photographer ha ha.
What’s the best tool of your trade?
Well apart from the obvious (ie. Camera with lens & film/memory card) I’m gona say that at the minute I have more and more appreciation for my tripod as the days go on. Without it I’d be screwed.
Why did you choose these three images?
I chose these three images because they work well together. Without the context they are simply three portraits of people in their local community in bright colourful clothes. In context, these are three people from the Mon tribe of Burma who have been directly persecuted by the Burmese government and have fled to Thailand. When I look at the images I try to view them with and without context and try to understand the expressions of the young innocent dancer, the 21-year-old volunteer soldier and the Buddhist Temple craftsman.
How would you describe them to a blind person?
With difficulty.
If your art was music what would it sound like?
The track would be mum – Green Grass Of Tunnel. At least that’s what I’d like it to sound like.
Slate yourself.
I’m 27 with the attitude of an 18-year-old.
Big up yourself.
I’m 27 with the attitude of an 18-year-old.
How far have you gone for your art?
I once spent the day backstage in the changing room of Ladyboy beauty contest. That day I learned the many unknown uses of duck tape and that although they can look like beautiful women, they still smell like sweaty men when they get nervous before the show. Oh, and they flirt like women but with the directness of men.
If you want to check out more of Steve Ryan, and you really should, click here
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