Art II
Political murals are a pretty big thing in Northern Ireland; almost 2000 have been documented since the 1970s, and there's always plenty of political graffiti to accompany them. Today we'll be grading examples found within a 50m stretch over the Boyne Bridge (just behind the Europa Bus Station).
Sandy Row
Unoriginal from the outset, being a poor facsimile of the "Free Derry" mural (which in itself is not a true mural as it is merely words not images). Erratic emboldening, creating the impression of non sequitur sub clauses, and an inconsistent choice of font and font size hinders the reader. A pair of acromegalic red fists and a wobbly-headed UFF caricature that appear to have been drawn by a child finish off what is a most unsatisfactory mural. D minus: must try harder.
FARC
The graffiti reads "FARC OFF GERRY KELLY". Here FARC is employed with dichotomous connotations: on the one hand FARC is synonymous for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, a militant guerrilla group that three Irish Republicans were accused of training; on the other hand it almost sounds a little bit like "fuck". Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein's spokesperson on Justice issues, visited the accused Republicans when they were held in prison in Columbia. Thus the graffiti simultaneously associates a member of Sinn Fein with an illegal terrorist organisaton and an insult. Unfortunately for the artiste, associating a member of Sinn Fein with an illegal terrorist organisaton is nothing new, and if you're going to write graffiti, make sure you know how to spell "Gerry". You may think you have gotten away with covering a misplaced 'R' with a well sprayed letter 'E', but these things get noticed sonny. C minus.
(Note the "IRA" graffiti on the pillar to the right. A young Republican, most likely from the Falls area has encroached as close as he dare to Sandy Row and placed his tag. I'm sure that makes for quite the yarn among his peers).
Blair Kelly
Hmm... a more complex issue is broached with this writing on the wall: "BLAIR GIVES IN TO CHILD KILLER SEAN KELLY 'NO JUSTICE' SANDY ROW". Sean Kelly blew up a fish shop on the Shankill Road, Belfast in October 1993. With the exception of another bomber who was also killed, the rest of those who died were Protestant civilians. Sean Kelly went to prison to serve 9 life sentences, but was released in 2000 after The Agreement (aka the Good Friday Agreement, the Belfast Agreement or the Peace Agreement). However, in June this year Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Wales (and Northern Ireland) said ÂI am satisfied that Sean Kelly has become re-involved in terrorism and is a danger to others and while he is at liberty, is likely to commit further offences. On the basis of security information available to me, I have decided to return Sean Kelly to prison with immediate effect". Sean Kelly was then freed again on temporary release on the 27th of July; the IRA formally ordered an end to its armed campaign on the 28th of July. The writers of the graffiti think the release of Sean Kelly and the IRA statement are related, so the peace process is taking precedence over the rule of law (hence 'NO JUSTICE').
Anyway... the graffiti is clearly legible and without spelling mistakes, and maintains a level on difficult sloping terrain. Furthermore, it's clearly visible from all the rear facing rooms in the Europa hotel, sending its message to a wider audience than could be hoped from placing it further down Sandy Row. Grade B for effort, topicality and exposure.
Sandy Row
Unoriginal from the outset, being a poor facsimile of the "Free Derry" mural (which in itself is not a true mural as it is merely words not images). Erratic emboldening, creating the impression of non sequitur sub clauses, and an inconsistent choice of font and font size hinders the reader. A pair of acromegalic red fists and a wobbly-headed UFF caricature that appear to have been drawn by a child finish off what is a most unsatisfactory mural. D minus: must try harder.
FARC
The graffiti reads "FARC OFF GERRY KELLY". Here FARC is employed with dichotomous connotations: on the one hand FARC is synonymous for Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, a militant guerrilla group that three Irish Republicans were accused of training; on the other hand it almost sounds a little bit like "fuck". Gerry Kelly, Sinn Fein's spokesperson on Justice issues, visited the accused Republicans when they were held in prison in Columbia. Thus the graffiti simultaneously associates a member of Sinn Fein with an illegal terrorist organisaton and an insult. Unfortunately for the artiste, associating a member of Sinn Fein with an illegal terrorist organisaton is nothing new, and if you're going to write graffiti, make sure you know how to spell "Gerry". You may think you have gotten away with covering a misplaced 'R' with a well sprayed letter 'E', but these things get noticed sonny. C minus.
(Note the "IRA" graffiti on the pillar to the right. A young Republican, most likely from the Falls area has encroached as close as he dare to Sandy Row and placed his tag. I'm sure that makes for quite the yarn among his peers).
Blair Kelly
Hmm... a more complex issue is broached with this writing on the wall: "BLAIR GIVES IN TO CHILD KILLER SEAN KELLY 'NO JUSTICE' SANDY ROW". Sean Kelly blew up a fish shop on the Shankill Road, Belfast in October 1993. With the exception of another bomber who was also killed, the rest of those who died were Protestant civilians. Sean Kelly went to prison to serve 9 life sentences, but was released in 2000 after The Agreement (aka the Good Friday Agreement, the Belfast Agreement or the Peace Agreement). However, in June this year Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Wales (and Northern Ireland) said ÂI am satisfied that Sean Kelly has become re-involved in terrorism and is a danger to others and while he is at liberty, is likely to commit further offences. On the basis of security information available to me, I have decided to return Sean Kelly to prison with immediate effect". Sean Kelly was then freed again on temporary release on the 27th of July; the IRA formally ordered an end to its armed campaign on the 28th of July. The writers of the graffiti think the release of Sean Kelly and the IRA statement are related, so the peace process is taking precedence over the rule of law (hence 'NO JUSTICE').
Anyway... the graffiti is clearly legible and without spelling mistakes, and maintains a level on difficult sloping terrain. Furthermore, it's clearly visible from all the rear facing rooms in the Europa hotel, sending its message to a wider audience than could be hoped from placing it further down Sandy Row. Grade B for effort, topicality and exposure.
3 Comments:
*laughs*
First art criticism I have read that I've actually enjoyed!
I found your blog while trying to figure out the story behind that same bit of Sean Kelly graffiti. I took a picture of the same wall a few weeks ago, though the rest of the building is no longer there.
Shame they knocked down the building, as it was kinda nice :(
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