"It's really strange but, outside of my own circle of friends
and acquaintances, there is really only a handful of women that
I have always wanted to draw. One of these women has always
been Sinead O'Connor and I finally got the opportunity to do
it this year. I have known Sinead over the years and have always
found her very gentle, funny and easy to get on with, but for
some reason (despite the fact that I'm twice her size and nearly
twice her age) I have always felt curiously intimidated in asking
her to pose for me. In 1998, out of the blue, she asked me to
work with her on a concept for her CD single 'This IS a Rebel
Song'. When she phoned me at first and asked me, I was absolutely
thrilled. I told her that I'd love to, on the condition that
I could draw her as well. She agreed enthusiastically ("My sister
will be mad jealous", she joked) and said that I could photograph
her the next time that she was in Dublin".
O'Connors brief to Fitzpatrick was short and to the point ;
"The song is about the Troubles in the North of Ireland and
the love of an Irish girl for an English soldier and I want
something passionate and sensual - something that will strike
an immediate chord, something very powerful". The end result
is a very striking and powerful piece of imagery. Fitzpatricks
original concept of the two figures entwined met with immediate
approval from O'Connor ; "I was delighted with end result myself",
Fitzpatrick says, "but more than that it gave me the first chance
to show the direction of my new work, produced for someone I
have always had great admiration for". |
 |
