Here is a third panel from the new Stroud St. mural (previous panels one | two). This image is based on a photograph by the celebrated Belfast photographer Bill Kirk whose exhibit ‘Sandy Row 1974’ was at the Red Barn Gallery September-October 2011. Below, and at 6:50 in the video below, one can see the original photograph of the Elliots.
This mural is an example of the ‘re-imaging’ of local areas that is being commissioned/sponsored by public bodies in NI at present. The stated aim of the project is to replace existing murals with ones that are less violent or, as in this case, to create new ones in order to enhance the appearance of an area. This mural contains no images of flags, political or paramilitary personages or emblems. It is ‘non-political’ in that sense, though you might argue that state sponsorship of ‘neutral’ images is in itself a political act.
Many such murals seem to rely on nostalgia, as is evident in this image.
Click and click again to enlarge (to 1305 x 2000)
Copyright © 2012 Extramural Activity
Camera Settings: f8, 1/60, ISO 160, 3664 x 5616
text: X00587 mr & mrs elliot in the back yard of their house boyne sq 1974
Extramural Activity 