Ulster Museum showcase all new street art installation project
Have you spotted this cool 25m design? 👨🎨
A 25-metre street art installation, entitled Counterpart, has been revealed on the exterior of one of Belfast most iconic buildings – Ulster Museum.
Designed by renowned artist and activist, Joe Caslin, Counterpart is a powerful contribution to the city’s street art collection and depicts various viewpoints of life in Northern Ireland.
Caslin’s masterful, monochrome pencil sketch technique has been brought to life on an unavoidable scale enticing the viewer to reflect on Northern Ireland’s shared future.
The artwork is an output of the Making the Future programme, which is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and delivered by project partners National Museums NI and the Nerve Centre.
Throughout the summer, members of the public had the opportunity to work alongside Caslin to explore the world of street art and examine how political division is represented in contemporary street art.
Counterpart represents the culmination of these discussions and depicts some of the perspectives shared by participants around their heritage, culture and identity in Northern Ireland.
Caslin’s work is known to focus on modern societal issues and this new piece at Ulster Museum is his second contribution to Belfast, having already impressed with a five-storey mural depicting a married lesbian couple as part of the same-sex marriage campaign.
Commenting on the final piece, street artist and activist, Joe Caslin, said: “Working with Nerve Centre, Ulster Museum and Counterpart participants was a truly worthwhile and eye-opening experience. All of my work begins with research so having the opportunity to share my world and understanding of art with others, who in turn shared their experiences with me, was particularly meaningful. The values of the project appeal to my values as the goal here is to create debate and conversation.
The Counterpart installation features a dragging arm to depict how some people in Northern Ireland feel that the community they are born in can define their lives. A clenched fist represents both defiance and a desire for change, whilst two Roseate Tern birds, a rare and endangered species that migrates to Northern Ireland every year, reflect a sense of freedom, resilience, and a commitment to this place. The birds featured are purposefully different to acknowledge that the differing views of people across Northern Ireland are welcomed.
Many participants, including Barra Doherty (25) from Belfast, whose likeness features in the artwork, had the opportunity to contribute their own ideas, artistic skills and talent to the installation.
Barra said: “It feels like I’m part of something bigger. I got to meet new people through the workshops and have discussions with people from different walks of life which was such a great experience. The sessions were collaborative experience between us and Joe. He took our ideas on board as inspiration and what we have now is such a significant piece of work and I am excited to see it evoke different thoughts in people’s minds as they look up while walking past.”
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