A MAJOR exhibition of the work of Derry’s Bogside artists is being hosted the University of Edinburgh to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bogside.
The three artists, Kevin Hasson, Tom Kelly and his brother William, who died in 2017, started working together in 1993.
Their best-known work is a series of 12 huge murals painted on gable walls along Rossville Street.
Depicting the history of the Bogside, the murals reflect key events including the Battle of the Bogside, the era of Free Derry, Bloody Sunday and the 1981 Hunger Strikes.
They also highlight tragedies such as the murder in 1971 of schoolgirl Annette McGavigan (14), who was shot dead by the British army.
Named “The People’s Gallery”, the Bogside murals have become a major tourist attraction with thousands of people visiting them annually. They have also led to the Bogside artists exhibiting their work all over the world.
The latest exhibition, at Rainy Hall, New College, Edinburgh, has already attracted large numbers of visitors.
A spokeswoman for the organisers said the exhibition, “Art, Conflict and Remembering: The murals of the Bogside Artists”, was accompanied by talks and discussions.
“The exhibition not only showcases the magnificent art of the Bogside artists but also serves as an important educational tool to inform people about Northern Ireland’s civil rights’ movement and the effects of its suppression on ordinary citizens.
“In the fact of the overwhelming ignorance of many British people about Northern Ireland, this also brings home the underplayed seriousness of the various Brexit scenarios and a reminder of what a hard border could mean for the future.”
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