Mural Support: Ulster Museum exhibition explores Bill Rolston's 40-year career in photography

A new exhibition to showcase the work of Belfast-born mural photographer, Bill Rolston, has opened at Ulster Museum. Drawing Support: Murals, Memory and Identity showcases almost 50 murals that Rolston has documented over the last 40 years, and highlights the importance of artistic expression to communities in conflict, whilst also exploring the themes of identity, cultural expression and conflict legacy. 

The exhibition includes photography of murals painted by activists from a range of backgrounds including republican and loyalist communities, across Northern Ireland from 1981 to the present day. Also included are murals which address wider societal talking points such as a mural which first appeared on the Berwick Road, Belfast in 2019 to highlight Northern Ireland’s suicide rate as the highest in the UK amongst people aged 18-24, and stress the importance of seeking professional help when dealing with mental health issues. Also on display is a mural that was based on Picasso's ‘Guernica’, and was the first mural jointly produced by republican and loyalist muralists on Divis Street, Belfast in 2007. 

Commenting on how important it is for Ulster Museum to document Northern Ireland’s murals, Rebecca Laverty, Curator of Modern History at National Museums NI, said, “Rolston’s work throughout the last four decades has highlighted how socially engaged practice - any art form involving people and communities in debate - continues to play an important role in post-conflict Northern Ireland. This exhibition is significant in that it brings together two important art forms, photography and mural painting, and we look forward to welcoming people to Ulster Museum to learn more about Rolston’s career, and how murals visually tell the story of Northern Ireland’s political division and partition.”

The tradition of political mural painting began here in 1908, making it one of the longest continuous examples in the world. It is estimated that 2,000 murals, most of which contain political themes or references to the Troubles, adorn walls, buildings and fences right across the region. The largest concentration can be found in Belfast although other locations prolific with this form of artistic expression include Derry~Londonderry, Newtownards, Bangor, and Ballymena.

Image

In the lead up to the exhibition opening, Bill Rolston said, “I have been photographing murals in Northern Ireland since 1981, and although many of my images have been reproduced across the five books I’ve published, it’s a pleasure to present my work in exhibition form for the first time. I’m grateful to the Ulster Museum, for giving me the opportunity to do this and believe that the exhibition will fit well with the Museum's commitment to representing all communities and backgrounds in Northern Ireland.

“The events that took place in Northern Ireland after 1968 have not just impacted local people, but people across the world, and I’m extremely proud to share some highlights of that history as captured in these photographs. Together the images selected as part of the exhibition demonstrate how varied a tapestry of stories is presented on murals across the region with themes of identity, tradition, activism, violence and resistance, suffering and loss, all accounted for.”

The decades of conflict, violence and division have left complex legacy issues across Northern Ireland. National Museums NI has created a platform where everyone is invited to explore the complex legacies of the island’s past. William Blair, Director of Collections at National Museums NI, highlighted the impact this can have in promoting good relations and bringing people together. He said, “Our museums welcome debate about our contested history, the times we live in now, and what our shared future might look like. Collecting and sharing historically significant objects, such as local murals, allows us to create inclusive and diverse experiences that bridge the past with the present. This is fundamental in providing our visitors the opportunity to challenge their own perspectives and have conversations that inspire change and bring about a better future for us all.”

Drawing Support: Murals, Memory and Identity will be open until December, and is free to visit as part of general admission to Ulster Museum. Due to the sensitive content of some of the photography included, it is recommended for audiences aged 14+.