2.8 The voice of a new generation

 

1) Use your knowledge to complete this article.

2) Describe and explain the different murals.

3)  Why does street art keep changing in this country?

4)  Why can we say that street art is the “voice of a new generation”?

 

Street Art In Northern Ireland: The Voice Of A New Generation

by Rebecca Anderson

https://impakter.com/street-art-northern-ireland-voice-new-generation/

When one reveals that they are from __________________, the inevitable questions about the Troubles are sure to follow. Northern Ireland, a small country of just 1.8 million people, is famous, or perhaps infamous, for the Troubles. This refers to a period of _____________________ which began in the late 1960s and ended with what is referred to as ___________________________, in 1998. The Troubles is a complicated topic, and it is not my intention to discuss it in any great detail here. Broadly speaking, the Troubles took place because one part of Northern Irish society, the part that generally identified itself as Irish, ____________, Nationalist, _________________ or a combination of the four, felt oppressed by the other, the part that generally identified itself as British, ____________________,   __________________________,  Loyalist or a combination. This oppression was felt economically, politically and culturally and resulted in a civil rights movement, which was met with aggression, and these tensions ultimately escalated into three decades of conflict. 1972 was the bloodiest year of the Troubles when just short of 500 people, largely civilians were killed.

Street art in Northern Ireland has almost become synonymous with the Troubles. The most dominant form of street art by far is _________________________painting. It is easy to understand why considering that a large number of murals allude to the conflict in some way. Street art has long been a form of territorial marker, a way to mark an area as Republican or Unionist. Historically, murals were a Unionist cultural practice used to celebrate historic events, such as King William of Orange’s victory at the Battle of the Boyne, or to give a more contemporary example, the Royal Wedding. This type of mural is a celebration of British culture and is used by the Unionist community to affirm their British identity. Republican murals are a much more recent cultural practice. Prior to the Troubles, Republican culture was largely ghettoised and kept out of the public sphere as to admit that an area was Republican was to admit that there were areas of Northern Ireland which challenged British rule. In the 1980s this changed. The Republican movement began combining a political campaign alongside their military efforts. Mural painting became an effective way to reach a large audience […]

 

IN THE PHOTO: Unionist street art in Northern Ireland           IN THE PHOTO: Republican street art in Northern Ireland     PHOTO CREDIT: Ben Kreckx/ Pixabay

One of the most beautiful qualities of art is its ability to evolve and adapt, also one of the reasons artist projects can also be tools for political activism. Artistic practices are never static and constantly __________________________over time. Street art can often seem like one of the most ephemeral forms of art; its short life often due to exposure to the elements or being painted over or cleaned away. Perhaps this helps facilitate its growth and ability to change direction.

In Northern Ireland today, we can see street art starting to change direction too. […]

One of the best examples of this is the work of Joe Caslin. Caslin was very active in the Republic of Ireland (the other half of the island of Ireland) leading up to the referendum on same-sex marriage. His pieces aimed to draw public attention to the issue. In collaboration with this year’s Belfast Pride, which took place in August, he has created a new mural in ____________________, the capital of Northern Ireland, which features two___________________ kissing…

The mural is hard hitting because Northern Ireland is now the only country in both the United Kingdom and on the island of Ireland where ____________________________ remains illegal. A fact which is not discussed often enough in media at home or abroad. Work like Caslin’s highlights that an art form which has always been associated with political expression is being used by a new generation to combat other inequalities in _____________________ society. Street art can be seen to be moving away from the Troubles and drawing attention to contemporary sites of struggle within _________________ society. In combining the mural with photographs and stories, the project underlines the presence of a vibrant queer community and humanizes them, giving them a face and a story, highlighting that they are leading a life just like every other Northern Irish person and so deserve the same rights. Excitingly, Caslin also adds a digital layer to his art by including a hashtag, something that is increasingly important due to the rise of ____________activism...