IN THE FRAME
Pillars of Society
“Shortly after Russian troops invaded Ukraine I found myself unexpectedly drawn to the Russian embassy in Dublin. I felt the urge to respond somehow. Up until this moment I had no idea where the embassy was located and found it nestled in the peaceful suburb of Rathgar. But, the scene at the firmly locked gates was far from peaceful. This violent image of one of the gate pillars captured the hostile mood.
Resembling a still from a B-movie horror film depicting the ‘gates of hell’, blood-drenched hands climb the cold, granite tombstone pillar, trying to escape this nightmare. The brass plaque of the embassy had been summarily ripped off and replaced with a simple message: “Putout Putin”.
A few days later completely by accident I stumbled across the entrance to the Ukrainian embassy located in leafy Ballsbridge. It was dusk and the flickering lights of numerous candles by the gates caught my attention.
Flowers and messages of hope decked the pavement and railings. The red brick gate pillar is bathed in a warm evening glow, standing proud beside the open gates to the embassy. But, sadly the image also has the eerie look of a grave stone where people were coming to pay their respects. A vigil for a nation struggling to survive.”
Kieron J. Walsh is a film maker. His latest work is feature film The Racer and the upcoming series of Inside No 9 for the BBC.
