Burn/t Out: Crimes against social cohesion by Allan LEONARD 10 April 2019 One of the criticisms of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is that it did not satisfactorily scope out mechanisms for dealing with the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland; the focus was forging a consensus on exclusively non-violent means of pursuing politics. … Continue reading Burn/t Out: Crimes against social cohesion
SEVERE: Interview with Martin Seeds by Allan LEONARD 5 November 2018 A new body of work by Belfast-born artist, Martin Seeds, has just been shown as part of the Brighton Photo Fringe. The works are an extension of Seeds’ application of landscape and allegory. Or put another way, our political landscape -- literally and figuratively. … Continue reading SEVERE: Interview with Martin Seeds
The Lost Moment exhibition: The provocation of 1968 by Allan LEONARD 27 September 2018 In the year 1968, there were street protests and marches in Belfast, Berlin, Derry/Londonderry, Paris, Prague, Selma and beyond. Some of the most powerful captured images and video clips are on display at The Lost Moment exhibition at the Gallery of … Continue reading The Lost Moment exhibition: The provocation of 1968
Transforming memories of war into memories of peace: Imagine Peace by Allan LEONARD 18 September 2018 Imagine Peace is a photography exhibition launched at Belfast Exposed as part of Good Relations Week, featuring artists Ingrid Guyon and Antonio Amador with their Colombian peacebuilding subjects. The exhibition is part of a creative peace project called “FUTyoURES”, … Continue reading Transforming memories of war into memories of peace: Imagine Peace
Mr Ulster buys a painting30 November 2017 For my 50th birthday, I wanted a special gift, something that I would always attribute to that milestone event. I have long appreciated visual arts; I even took a few art history modules at university. I dabbled with drawing, which I enjoyed, but quickly realised that getting competent … Continue reading Mr Ulster buys a painting
A victim from the inside out: Photographic exhibition of Maurice Hobson by Allan LEONARD 6 September 2017 Maurice Hobson was a 17-year-old pupil at Dungannon Royal School when a bomb blew up in Market Square, while he was waiting to board the school bus. A car jack hit him on the left side of his … Continue reading A victim from the inside out: Photographic exhibition of Maurice Hobson
Solace or detachment in our journeys? Translink photography exhibition by Allan LEONARD 9 August 2017 Passengers who have travelled through Belfast Central Station this summer have had an opportunity to meet others captured in photographs by students from Ulster University’s School of Art. The public exhibition of large prints mounted onto easels is named “Journey”, … Continue reading Solace or detachment in our journeys? Translink photography exhibition
Poetry & Place: Photographic interpretations of Louis MacNeice by Allan LEONARD 25 July 2017 Women of the Ards peninsula worked with community artist, Jane McComb, to use photography not only to document social, maritime, and agricultural legacy of the area, but also to give interpretation to the writings of poet, Louis MacNeice (1907–1963), who is … Continue reading Poetry & Place: Photographic interpretations of Louis MacNeice
“Art can tread where words and politics often can’t”: The Art of Conflict Transformation @The_JHS by Allan LEONARD for Shared Future News 25 July 2017 As part of the 30th anniversary of the John Hewitt Society international summer school, the Institute for Conflict Research (ICR) sponsored a panel discussion, “The Art of Conflict Transformation”, which … Continue reading “Art can tread where words and politics often can’t”: The Art of Conflict Transformation
Conflicting Images: Ulster Museum by Allan LEONARD 26 July 2017 As part of its Collecting the Troubles and Beyond initiative, the Ulster Museum currently has an exhibition called Conflicting Images: Photography during the Northern Irish Troubles. In a loose chronology there are 140 images from a variety of photographers. International photojournalists arrived with increased disturbances. … Continue reading Conflicting Images: Ulster Museum
Softening images of Partition by Allan LEONARD 24 May 2017 Although John Irvine left Northern Ireland over 15 years ago, having grown up about East Antrim, he retains “strong links” and comes home frequently. Irvine explained how one morning drive accidentally led him to his book, Partition. Irvine picked up photography in his mid-20s, mainly … Continue reading Softening images of Partition
Art, peace and reconciliation: In conversation with Rita Duffy by Allan LEONARD 11 May 2017 At the last lecture in the spring series of events hosted by the Mitchell Institute of Peace at Queen’s University Belfast, artist Rita Duffy conversed with Professor Fiona Magowan, on how she has applied her creativity to help better understand … Continue reading Art, peace and reconciliation: In conversation with Rita Duffy
