Street Art

I recently went to see the Street Art exhibition at the Ulster Museum. An excellent exhibition consisting of works from local artists such as KVLR and international street artists like Banksy, it got me thinking of the role art, and street art, plays in depicting a city. I find street art and murals particularly interesting where they crossover with politics and public opinion. When they make a statement. Banksy does this extraordinarily well the world over, combining recognisable pop culture figures with the imagery of war to convey a powerful message with striking visual vocabulary. Napalm is the best example of this that comes to mind.

Belfast is of course well know for its political murals, and while there are still many murals depicting men in balaclavas toting guns, newer murals trend towards a celebration Northern Ireland's cultural and social history without portraying the violence. In comparison to the gritty murals, Belfast does of course have its fair share of commissioned art out on the street. Pieces such as the Beacon of Hope and the recent sculpture Rise emphasise the positive changes in Belfast following the Good Friday Agreement. These do not have the immediacy of street art nor represent the public opinion. Instead they speak of what Belfast hopes to become.

To me, street art and art on the street seem to hold very different purposes. Street art is the message of the person on the ground, simply showing others how they see things while art on the street reflects how political figures hope to influence the way others view the world.

Edited to add: Speaking of art, check this out.