Details of Sectarian Murals Gareth McConnell Northern Ireland

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991 Hypes

Northern Irish photographer Gareth McConnell has released a new book containing cropped images of Sectarian murals. Published under his London-based studio Sorika, Details of Sectarian Murals paints a new light on the artwork layered across walls of his home nation, which pay tribute to those lost during The Troubles and simultaneously signal allegiances to a conflict that continues to persist to this day.

The Troubles (1968-1998) was 30 year period marked by intense strife between Union Protestants and Separatist Catholics, the latter group advocating to stay within the UK, while the latter seeking to join the Republic of Ireland. Car bombs, sniper shootings and street clashes led to roughly 3,500 people losing their lives, and 20,000 more wounded over a three decade span. While a power-sharing arrangement was made between the UK and the Republic of Ireland in 1998, tensions still persist following Britain’s decision to leave the EU.

Designed by Tom Etherington and Scott King, McConnell largely presents these murals stripped of their often aggressive figurative depictions or messaging, resulting in highly abstracted close-ups that are visually closer to a painting by German artist Gerhard Richter, than a religiously charged image of machine guns and flag bearers.

“The murals are a folk art in which traditional painterly craft values are used, without the overly self-conscious, self-awareness of fine art painting,” noted Sarah Allen, who wrote a text for the book. “They are an art form that exists somewhere on a continuum with graffiti, coats of arms, Victorian advertising, ice cream van signage, pub signs, and trade union banners. At another level, however, they are aggressive and hostile, and imply violent consequences to foes and ideological transgressors. Whatever the murals have been, are, or are becoming, tourists are now happy to take guided walking tours of them.”

Details of Sectarian Murals is an edition 500 that spans 96 pages and is available to purchase online for £30 GBP / $37 USD.

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