Garry Loughlin, What Makes an Island?

What Makes an Island?

What Makes an Island? is a multidisciplinary project exploring the contested nature of Rockall, a remote North Atlantic islet, through photography, video, archival material, and performance. By interrogating the physical and symbolic dimensions of Rockall, the project examines broader themes of territorial control, post-colonial legacies, and the fluidity of national boundaries. 

In 1955, Rockall was annexed in the last land-grab of the British Empire, motivated by Cold War fears that Soviet agents might use it to spy on nuclear missile testing off the Outer Hebrides. Since then, Britain’s claim over Rockall has faced ongoing disputes with Ireland and the European Union. Although Ireland contests British ownership, it has never asserted sovereignty itself. Following Brexit, Britain’s intensified stance on fishing rights has mirrored its determination to retain Rockall, underscoring the economic and political tensions driving this territorial struggle. 

At the heart of the project lies the question: What constitutes an island? Is it merely a geological formation, or does its significance derive from political, historical, and cultural narratives? Through an interplay of documentary and speculative approaches, the work investigates the strategic and ideological weight placed upon this seemingly insignificant rock.

The work incorporates a series of maps that highlight Rockall’s geopolitical relevance, some of which are presented as enlarged fragments, emphasizing the ways in which space is constructed and contested. Performance lectures offer an alternative mode of engagement, inviting dialogue on sovereignty, belonging, and the legacies of empire. 

By blending visual documentation with critical inquiry, What Makes an Island? questions how territories are claimed, represented, and understood. The project positions Rockall not only as a geographical entity but as a lens through which to examine the enduring tensions between cartography, power, and identity.

Garry Loughlin

Garry Loughlin is a lens-based artist whose work interrogates power, territorial control, and the ways in which narratives are shaped and asserted. Through photography, writing, and archival material, he explores the intersection of history, myth, and geopolitics, questioning how authority is inscribed onto landscapes and collective memory. 

His practice is driven by a curiosity for micro-histories—seemingly peripheral events that, when examined, reveal deeper structures of influence and control. By engaging with documentary photography’s language, he challenges the perceived neutrality of the photographic image, revealing its role in the construction of history. His use of archival material alongside his own imagery creates a fragmented aesthetic that reflects the complexities and contradictions of contested spaces.

Loughlin’s work has been exhibited internationally, including at Dublin Castle (IE), Soap Works / The Centre of Gravity (UK), and The Capa Centre (HU). His work is held in collections such as the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University (US) and the Office of Public Works Collection (IE). He has also delivered performance lectures and workshops exploring the relationship between image-making, historical narratives, and performance.

Garry Loughlin, What Makes an Island?
New Irish Works series 2025–27
Launch 6pm Thu 14 May 2026
Running 15 May–9 August 2026
At the International Centre for the Image