Between the Lines: Capturing Liminality in Inclusive Young Masculinities – Brónagh Corr

This exhibition, created by artist and University of Ulster researcher Brónagh Corr McNicholl, explores the evolving landscape of young masculinities in Derry/Londonderry following the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. In a city straddling the echoes of conflict and the potential of peace, young masculinities find themselves in a liminal space—caught between the remnants of traditional gender roles and the emerging fluidity of self-expression. Here, masculinity is no longer fixed or singular; it is diverse, evolving, and deeply shaped by the city’s complex history and social transformations.

This exhibition illuminates how these young people negotiate their place within this transitional space. Through photography, oral histories, and exhibition, the artist explores the complexities of their identities as they challenge established paradigms of manhood. The process of photography is complemented by digital post-production, where images are further manipulated and layered to reflect the fluidity and complexity of these evolving masculinities. Digital techniques allow for an engagement with the liminal nature of this journey, pushing the boundaries of traditional portraiture to reflect the internal and external transformations at play.

By focusing on these young people, the exhibition showcases the diverse, inclusive ways in which masculinity can be reimagined—capturing the liminal space where tradition meets transformation, and where new, more inclusive identities are being forged.