The eyes of the art world are on Derry this week as the city hosts the biggest celebration of contemporary art, The Turner Prize Exhibition, which is attracting artists and art lovers from far and wide.
Shiro Masuyama
While the exhibits by the four artists shortlisted for the prestigious Turner Prize – the winner of which will be announced live from Ebrington on Channel 4 on 2 December next – are grabbing all the headlines, the exhibition also features a unique installation by a Japanese artist.
Shiro Masuyama, who is currently based in Belfast, has created a special work titled “Borderline” incorporating emblems and paraphernalia representing both Britain and Ireland which is being showcased in a caravan based on the Ebrington.
The installation has been created as part of the City of Culture programme and throughout November and December will be “camped out” at Derry-Donegal border crossings on weekdays and return to the city for weekend viewings.
The work aims to reflect both Irish and British culture as it is represented in Northern Irish society today, and the caravan will go on display at a number of border locations over the coming months, as Shiro explained.
“I have converted the interior of the caravan into two parts, one half has a British design and the other half an Irish design. Many things which have either been used by the British or Irish character are also displayed symmetrically, British objects on the British side, Irish objects on the Irish side, as well as a half British and half Irish interior.”
Shiro said when the caravan was on some borderline points between Derry and Donegal. he hoped to develop the project by talking to people on both sides of the border and adding objects and or correcting the display to the right direction.
He added: “Since I started living in Northern Ireland, I’ve found it difficult to understand the particular differences between Irish and British culture in such a complex society. The idea of the caravan is to create a small museum to show the difference of each culture.”
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