When attending the talk for Space Week by astronaut Greg H Johnson, it was the perfect opportunity to visit the widely praised exhibition, Silent Testimony. All exhibits are portraits of those affected by Northern Ireland’s ‘Troubles’. Artist Colin Davidson is one of Northern Ireland’s best-known artists. His celebrity portraits are very popular and he is even credited for teaching Brad Pitt how to paint.
Silent Testimony opened at the beginning of June and received praise from politicians, community leaders and many others. Colin grew up in Belfast at the height of the Troubles and this is the first time he has used his work to show what effects the conflict had, and still has today. The exhibition comprises of 18 portraits of those who were affected in some way by the Troubles; people who were injured and those who lost loved ones.
As you walk into the exhibition, you are asked to be quiet. This gives you a chance to reflect on each portrait and the story behind it. Each canvas has a short description of how the Troubles impacted their lives.
Noticeably, these descriptions did not speak about which ‘side’ the person painted was. It did not matter. The pain etched into these faces is obvious. Colin crosses boundaries using these portraits. He shows that no matter how bad a conflict is or how divided a country can be, we are all people. We all hurt when something happens to those we love. Your community background does not matter.
I am no art expert. If I am being honest, I do not understand a lot of what is called art, but this exhibition moved me. It moved others who were there. I am glad I went and wish I visited sooner, but I will return to it. Silent Testimony is exhibiting in the Ulster Museum until Sunday, 17 January 2016.
Practical Information:
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, County Antrim BT9 5AB
Opening hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (closed all Mondays except Bank holidays).
More information on the exhibition is found here.
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