Exhibition explores peace in Northern Ireland

A new art exhibition exploring the impact of the historic ‘Good Friday’ Agreement has opened at MMU’s Holden Gallery, the first exhibition of its kind in Britain.

The 1998 Belfast Agreement brought an end to some thirty years of bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and opened the door to power sharing between unionists and nationalists for the first time in the country’s history.

Entitled “Archiving place and time: Contemporary art practice in Northern Ireland since the Belfast Agreement” the exhibition examines the consequences of the peace process over the past decade and responses by artists to the changed situation.

Exploring responses to change

The end of political violence brought significant changes to people’s everyday lives, from the growth of consumerism to spaces formerly identified with conflict redeveloped as tourist destinations. The paintings, photography, videos and installations on display at The Holden Gallery range from a gun cast in chocolate to images of whitewashed sectarian graffiti.

Co-curator Fionna Barber, Principal Lecturer in Contextual Studies at MMU’s School of Art, and originally from Northern Ireland, explains the aim of the exhibition: “I was struck by the fact that, despite the massive changes in people’s lives that the Belfast Agreement brought, there have been very few attempts to take account of the way that artists in that situation have responded. In doing so the more disturbing features of social transformation also become revealed; underlying trauma and deep psychological scarring brought about by the years of conflict has made its mark on much of this work.”

Challenging stereotypes

Fionna continues: “A further important aim has been to challenge views of Northern Ireland from Britain. During the ‘Troubles’ media-generated stereotypes of crazed gunmen and their victims predominated and had a major impact on how people from the country were perceived. The insights the exhibition brings are important not just in challenging stereotypes of Northern Ireland but also how other post-conflict cultures are seen.”

Fionna worked with Megan Johnston, Director of Millennium Court Arts Centre in Portadown, Northern Ireland, to curate the exhibition. From Manchester the exhibition, which has been supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland Lottery Fund, will travel to Portadown and on to Wolverhampton City Art Gallery, which has a permanent collection relating to the conflict in Northern Ireland.

Exhibiting artists include Willie Doherty, Rita Duffy, John Duncan, Sandra Johnston, Conor McFeely, Conor McGrady, Mary McIntyre, Philip Napier, Aisling O’Beirn and Paul Seawright.

The exhibition is free and runs until 11th December 2009. The Holden Gallery is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.