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Geoffrey McElwaine
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 10:27 - Edited by: Geoffrey McElwaine
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Graffiti is, sadly, a common feature of many urban landscapes, including Belfast's. It seems either to suggest that the graffiti artists -
Feel themselves excluded by, or alienated from, the society in which they live ; or
Are dissatisfied with their environment’s appearance.
The following pictures present a different approach, showing peoples’ pride in their local area’s history and, at the same time, serving as a background to a more recent history. All were taken in East Belfast, close to the Harland and Wolff shipyard where most men from the area formerly worked. The city of Belfast has a long history of shipbuilding, and the firm of Harland & Wolff forms a large part of the city’s nautical heritage.
This, a small fragment of a much larger mural, was painted on the wall of the Dee Street bridge over which thousands of men, just like him, poured on their way to, and from, the shipyard. He is dressed in the flat cap ( known, in local dialect, as a “ duncher “ ) worn by all shipyard workers. For generations of boys growing up in East Belfast “ the yard “ offered the opportunity of employment and career advancement. Now, the thousands are reduced to a trickle. Men once proud of their part in building great ships find themselves unable to find work.
Local pride in RMS Titanic focuses on the fact that she built by Harland & Wolff, rather than her tragic loss, being sunk by an iceberg on the morning of April 15, 1912, during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, with the loss of approximately 1,520 lives. Thomas Andrews Jr., 39, ( on the left in the mural ) was MD of H & W in charge of design, and went down with her, as did her Captain, Edward John Smith, 62, who was last seem in the bridge area having given the final order to abandon ship.
The Battle of the Somme commenced on 1 July 1916. Among those taking part was the 36th. Ulster Division whose members included many who belonged to the paramilitary Ulster Volunteer Force. In the first two days of the battle, the Division’s casualties amounted to five thousand five hundred officers and other ranks killed, wounded, and missing.
Images such as these are embedded deep in the psyche of many working class Belfast Protestants who feel that their contribution, in peace and war, is often overlooked in the current political climate. While these murals show a positive aspect, the paramilitary aggression in many others graphically illustrate the depth of people’s anger and frustration
CS Lewis, born Clive Staples Lewis on November 29 1898, in Belfast, died 22 November 1963. With the release of a major film of one of Lewis’ books - “ The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe ”, Belfast awoke to the fact that it had produced a literary figure of international stature.
Have Woophy members in other places seen this kind of street art ?
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M. Knegt
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 10:45
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These are all very nice! I've seen a documentary on these kind of murals once. But that was more about the IRA I think, I won't go in to this because I've actually don't know much about this.
I've never seen these kind of thing in the Netherlands though, I shot this renovated classic mural add in Valkenburg last summer though. Not quite the same as the Irish murals I know but here it is anyway.
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kombizz
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 10:46
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GREAT capture of these historical documentary informative murals.
http://www.fotocommunity.com/pc/account/myprofile/ 842948
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SJS
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 16:02
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Great stuff, Geoff (long time no exchange, sorry!).
There was a lot of amazing agit-prop graffiti immediately following the Revolution in Portugal in April 1974. It was really something to see in those early years.
Gradually times changed. In my first year in Lisbon, 1996-7, I lived opposite what had been a vast military hospital near the centre. Its extensive walls had, of course, become a monument first to the military overthrow of the dictatorship, then they reflected the ebss & flows of the various leftist factions, with urges to action - highly colourful, vivid, very reminiscent of the street art of the Bolshevik phase in Post-Revolutionary Russia.
That first winter, I began to notice how the political history was slowly being replaced by hip-hop graffiti. Each morning, we'd see a little more, like watching the sea erode a cliff. Very creative, very colourful too, but somehow insulting something historic,that should have been preserved and was worth preserving.
On the other hand, this transformation was a message in itself - about changing times, about changing values and about other social & political realities that I prefer not to get involved in here & now.
One evening, I looked out & actually witnessed a gang of 3 kid-artists spray-painting, about 150 metres away from my balcony, working hard and rapidly. It was obvious that the '74 Revolution - if that is what it was - meant nothing to them, but it was not for me to go and discuss it.
I just felt it was a real shane that the authorities said nothing, made no effort to preserve at least something.
Today, of course, there is not a single trace of what is concealed on maybe 400 metres of wall in total, by one huge kaleidoscopic mural depicting one aspect of 21st century urban life.
It's almost the same everywhere, with some exceptions. In 50 years time, who will ever know what was there? Especially as one day, the whole place will give way to yet another shopping/office/luxury aprtment complex, no doubt.
There are at least a few books dedicated to the agit-prop graffiti of Portugal 1974-6.
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W.Z.
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 17:58
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Unfortunately history on this wall in allmost unlimited.
Kind Regards,
W.Z.
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A.Miguel Oliveira
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 18:57
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Wow, Geoff, great history lesson!
Yes, Stewart, you're quite right 
Best regards to all,
Miguel
P.S. Sorry not to have any those images in digital 
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geert geenen
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 20:16
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Nijmegen (Netherlands); graffiti, reminding of Pierson-riots, february 1981; ME means Mobiele Eenheid (riot-police); weeks of demonstrating and fighting; squatters and ten thousands of sympathizers vs. the police
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Arwen
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 22:33
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Berlin Wall:
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geert geenen
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 22:59
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a very nice topic, Geoffrey.
and that Berlin Wall, indeed, madness!
thanks Arwen, you've reminded me of my visit to Berlin, 17 months ago. here are some photo's of that wall of madness.
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Ruud~
Member
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# Posted: 8 Feb 08 23:20
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Hi Geoff,
I my town we have another alternative to graffiti. We have poetry on the walls. Here are two examples, a sonnet by Shakespeare and an Italian poem by Eugenio Montale.
 
greetz,
Ruud~
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