Belfast city centre

We Built This

Extramural Activity2 Comments

Here is a gallery of completed pieces produced for International Women’s Day 2023 in College Court. The new street art is part of a larger revitalisation project (Belfast City Council).

The works shown are (from Castle Street to College Street) by Claire Prouvost, Holly Pereira, Katriona, Kerri Hanna, Danni Simpson, Alana McDowell, ESTR; Laura Nelson, Novice Jess, Friz, (guest artist Hicks who was in town to repair and extend his piece in College Street Mews (see Cool) – it was damaged by a dumpster fire) and, on the other side of the street, HM Constance.

For in-progress shots, see Women’s Work.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02296 T02295 T02294 T02293 T02297 T02292
T02287 [T02286] T02288 T02289 T02290 T02291 T02539 Department For Communities, Future City Centre Programme, A Bolder Vision for Belfast

Nerone

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Here are both the new and the old pieces from French artist (now based in London) Nerone (ig | web). The new piece is a wide arrangement of flowers in Upper Arthur Street. The older piece (shown in the final image, below) is from 2021’s Hit The North, “Life Won’t Wait” above the night-club (currently Club Lux) in Dunbar Road.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02017
T02014 [T02013]
T02015
T01860

A Planet Of Light And Heat

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

The Northern Star newspaper began publication in 1792 in Wilson’s Court, Belfast, under the editorship of Samuel Neilson, to cover local news and express the views of the United Irishmen. It became so popular that it survived until 1797, despite the Irishmen being outlawed in 1793 with the declaration of war between Britain and France and Neilson being arrested in 1796. Walter Cox, editor of The Irish Magazine And Monthly Asylum For Neglected Biography) wrote a ‘Sketch Of The Life Of Samuel Neilson’ for the September, 1811, edition (p. 396 ff) and wrote that “The Northern Star, under his managment, was indeed a planet of light and heat; its influences were commensurate with its circulation and its circulation was only restricted by the ocean. It warmed the cold; it animated the feeble; it cheered the afflicted; it stimulated the intrepid and instructed all. Pernicious dogmas, false reasonings, slavish superstitions and gothic prejudices, which broke the people into different sects and marshalled them against each other, disappeared before it.” (O’Brien 1998 | History Ireland)

The mural – in Wilson’s Court, Belfast – is by Rob Hilken and called “Light And Heat”.

See previously: Olaudah Equiano | Belle Martin and the Visual History page on the Belfast Entries Project

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02005 [T02004]

Under The Cherry Blossoms

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

Castle Arcade is so-called because it is the site of both the original castle of Belfast, built by the Normans in the late 12th century and then rebuilt by Arthur Chichester in 1611. Chichester’s castle had “spacious gardens which extended from the river along to Cromac Woods and near Stranmillis” with “orchards, bowling greens and cherry gardens … fish ponds,” for “hunting, hawking, and other sports”. It was destroyed by fire in 1708 after which the area became commercialised as a market (ArchiSeek | Mary Lowry | BBC | Belfast Entries).

By Friz (ig) and Gerry Norman (ig).

See previously: You’ve Got The Key Of The Street.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T02009 [T02006] [T02007] [T02008] [T02010] [T02011]

Stigma Breakers & Law Makers

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is Wee Nuls’s (web | ig) street art celebrating the success of the ‘menstruation matters’ (ig) campaign for free period products and the passage of the Period Products Bill.

The piece is perhaps a “gremlin” self-portrait in the style of Mr Blonde/Vic Vega. It was painted for HTN22 in the spot below Transport House where her original version of Free Period Items was painted and blacked out. (It was then repainted at Artcetra.) To the left is Claire Prouvost’s tribute to women workers of the world and to left is a Unity (union) hoarding: Workers Of The World Unite.

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2022 Paddy Duffy
T01874

Ffallen

Extramural ActivityLeave a comment

This is work by emic (ig) – with two “f”s in the title – inspired by Ciaran Carson’s Belfast Confetti, itself inspired by “a public notice from the corporation of Belfast (1678) which highlights a growing problem of Butchers and Tanners mastiff dogs attacking livestock, people, and even young children in the city” (Belfast Walking Tours). The wide shot (below) shows “3D printed floating orbs were created from recycled ocean plastics suspended over the central courtyard” (BCC).

Winecellar Entry, Belfast city centre

Click image to enlarge
Copyright © 2023 Paddy Duffy
T01881