Back in June 2019 I was honoured to be asked to introduce one of my creative hero's Olivero Toscani at Ulster Museum as part of the Belfast Photo Festival. I was involved with the international Photo Festival as it's Festival Co Ordinator a role I enjoyed very much. When I took up the position I couldn't believe that one of my all time creative hero's was lined up to give a talk at the Ulster Museum. They organisers were taken back by my reaction as the organisers really knew little about his work and he had been lined up as requested by one of the main sponsors a large outdoor poster print company. So you can imagine how thrilled and apprehensive I felt when at the eleventh hour the festival director asked if I would introduce this world renowned creative to a sell out audience. It also meant I got to meet him before and after the talk where I asked him something that had baffled me for several decades. Why after almost 30 years do you think people get upset by the New Born baby image which was used to introduce The United Colours of Benetton campaign. and he answered by simply saying ... "Because it's not a puppy'.
