Enda Burke

Bruised Still Blooming, 2025

Photograph | Unframed: 93 x 64 cm

‘This portrait explores masculinity, vulnerability, and performance. I wanted softness and toughness to coexist — the boy’s bruised face, boxing gloves, and floral setup suggest roles he’s navigating or resisting. I wanted to include his dog, which was rescued from a scrapyard. The Virgin Mary statue introduces another layer of protection, devotion, or silent witness. I’m drawn to the space between how boys are expected to present themselves and who they are when their guard drops. This tension and resilience were central to the image.’ - Enda Burke.

Enda Burke is a photographer based in Galway. His practice involves constructing elaborate, vintage sets, and staged narratives that feature family and friends. His work blends nostalgia, humour, kitsch and vibrant colour, and explores the surreal within the everyday. His photographs have featured in The Guardian and a wide range of other international publications. He was shortlisted for the Sony World Photography Awards in 2022 and 2025. ‘I’m drawn to the strange monotony of home life’, he says, ‘the quiet absurdity woven into domestic routines. Through humour, nostalgia, kitsch design, and saturated colour, I explore how small, transient moments can become striking and even surreal. I’m interested in how play, artifice, and detail can transform the everyday into something magical’.

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