20100721 Troubled Images

Troubled Images:Troubled Images:A Personal A Personal PerspectivePerspective

Gordon Gillespie: FormerlyGordon Gillespie: Formerly

Troubled Images Research OfficerTroubled Images Research Officer

First Troubled Images Exhibition: Feb-March First Troubled Images Exhibition: Feb-March 19861986

Robert Bell:Robert Bell: ‘‘Every political Every political

confrontation which confrontation which involves a battle for involves a battle for hearts and minds hearts and minds must use propaganda. must use propaganda. Posters, leaflets, the Posters, leaflets, the covers of pamphlets, covers of pamphlets, cards and records all cards and records all attempt to attempt to encapsulate a simple encapsulate a simple message, clearly message, clearly presented which will presented which will provoke immediate provoke immediate responses.’ responses.’

Robert Bell: NIPC Librarian in 1986

Troubled Images: Change and ContinuityTroubled Images: Change and Continuity

Yvonne Murphy: NIPC LibrarianYvonne Murphy: NIPC Librarian

NIPC Librarian Yvonne Murphy develops NIPC Librarian Yvonne Murphy develops on the concept of Troubled Images:on the concept of Troubled Images:

Objectives:Objectives: Catalogue materialCatalogue material Digitise materialDigitise material Create CD-rom using digitised materialCreate CD-rom using digitised material Select material for exhibitionSelect material for exhibition Create Exhibition catalogueCreate Exhibition catalogue

Funding from: Dept of Culture, Arts and Funding from: Dept of Culture, Arts and Leisure; Proteus; United States Institute Leisure; Proteus; United States Institute of Peace with support from; the of Peace with support from; the Community Relations Council; the Community Relations Council; the Belfast Society and the Joseph Rowntree Belfast Society and the Joseph Rowntree TrustTrust

Research Officer Dr Andy White and Research Officer Dr Andy White and researcher Ita Connolly working on Troubled researcher Ita Connolly working on Troubled

ImagesImages

Part of the Troubled Images Team: Andy Part of the Troubled Images Team: Andy White, Ita Connolly and Allan Leonard White, Ita Connolly and Allan Leonard

(Marketing and Production)(Marketing and Production)

Troubled Images Exhibition: October 2001Troubled Images Exhibition: October 2001

Troubled Images on tour:Troubled Images on tour:Bethlehem Peace Centre: April 2007Bethlehem Peace Centre: April 2007

The Gateway The Gateway Statement:Statement:

‘‘This is art of a This is art of a particular kind – the particular kind – the images presented in images presented in these posters are of a these posters are of a political, though not political, though not necessarily party necessarily party political, nature. They political, nature. They were designed to were designed to convey a message – to convey a message – to make the observer make the observer think, and often inspire think, and often inspire them to a course of them to a course of action.’action.’

Civil Rights and People’s Democracy Posters Civil Rights and People’s Democracy Posters 1968 and 19691968 and 1969

Bloody Friday (NIO: 1972) and Bloody Sunday Bloody Friday (NIO: 1972) and Bloody Sunday (PD: 1974)(PD: 1974)

‘‘Murder Murder’ (1978)Murder Murder’ (1978)

Henry McDonald:Henry McDonald: ‘‘There are some stomach-There are some stomach-

churning images, such as the churning images, such as the poster appealing for information poster appealing for information about the IRA’s bomb massacre about the IRA’s bomb massacre at the La Mon hotel. Even today at the La Mon hotel. Even today the picture of that charred torso the picture of that charred torso (it appears to have been a (it appears to have been a woman) accompanied by the woman) accompanied by the repetition of the word “Murder” repetition of the word “Murder” chills the blood.’chills the blood.’

The ObserverThe Observer 21 October 2001 21 October 2001

Joe McCann as icon (1972)Joe McCann as icon (1972)

Joe McCann as icon – Jim FitzPatrick (Right) Joe McCann as icon – Jim FitzPatrick (Right) 19721972

‘‘Dublin is just a Sunningdale Away’: John Dublin is just a Sunningdale Away’: John Laird (1974)Laird (1974)

‘‘For God and Ulster’: Patrick McGrath For God and Ulster’: Patrick McGrath (c.1969)(c.1969)

‘‘Vote Sinn Fein Gerry Adams’ (1983)Vote Sinn Fein Gerry Adams’ (1983)

‘‘Ulster Impressions’: Joan Wanklyn (1974)Ulster Impressions’: Joan Wanklyn (1974)

‘‘Ulster Says No’: Cedric Wilson (1986)Ulster Says No’: Cedric Wilson (1986)

‘‘Maintain Support Irish POW Political Status’:Maintain Support Irish POW Political Status’:Danny Devenny (1976)Danny Devenny (1976)

‘‘Bobby Sands’: (1981)Bobby Sands’: (1981)

‘‘Send Our Prisoners Home’: UDP-LPA (1995)Send Our Prisoners Home’: UDP-LPA (1995)

‘‘Think of Their Tomorrows’: Rowel Friers Think of Their Tomorrows’: Rowel Friers (1972)(1972)

‘‘Not Wanted! Outlaw Whitelaw’: Vanguard Not Wanted! Outlaw Whitelaw’: Vanguard 19721972

‘‘Hume – 1 Vote SDLP’: SDLP (1994)Hume – 1 Vote SDLP’: SDLP (1994)

‘‘Wave Goodbye to Dinosaurs’: NIWC (1996)Wave Goodbye to Dinosaurs’: NIWC (1996)

‘‘President Clinton Belfast City Hall’: Paula President Clinton Belfast City Hall’: Paula McElroy (1995)McElroy (1995)

‘‘All Party Peace Talks Now’: Sinn Fein (1995)All Party Peace Talks Now’: Sinn Fein (1995)

‘‘Stand by the Republic’: IRSP (1998)Stand by the Republic’: IRSP (1998)

‘‘Man Shot Dead’: Belfast Telegraph (2000)Man Shot Dead’: Belfast Telegraph (2000)

Troubled Images: History and Art?Troubled Images: History and Art?

Giles Waterfield in Giles Waterfield in The Art The Art NewspaperNewspaper (January 2002): (January 2002):

‘‘The display of the often shocking The display of the often shocking material in this setting does not material in this setting does not neutralise it but gives these neutralise it but gives these chronicles of hatred and combat a chronicles of hatred and combat a detached, dispassionate quality. … detached, dispassionate quality. … this record of the Troubles allows this record of the Troubles allows the people of Northern Ireland to the people of Northern Ireland to stand back from the present, not stand back from the present, not necessarily to admit that any necessarily to admit that any particular cause is right or wrong particular cause is right or wrong but to try to understand the but to try to understand the efforts and problems confronting efforts and problems confronting the individuals caught up in a the individuals caught up in a historical process.’historical process.’

Troubled Images wins the Ewart-Biggs Troubled Images wins the Ewart-Biggs Memorial PrizeMemorial Prize

March 2003 the Linen Hall Library March 2003 the Linen Hall Library is awarded the Christopher Ewart-is awarded the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial prize – the Biggs Memorial prize – the goal of goal of the prize is to promote peace and the prize is to promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland, a greater reconciliation in Ireland, a greater understanding between the understanding between the peoples of Britain and Ireland, or peoples of Britain and Ireland, or closer co-operation between closer co-operation between partners of the European partners of the European CommunityCommunity..

Other winners include FSL Lyons, Other winners include FSL Lyons, John Whyte, Richard English, John Whyte, Richard English, Stewart Parker, Brian Keenan and Stewart Parker, Brian Keenan and Brian Friel.Brian Friel.

Troubled Images on Display: June 2010Troubled Images on Display: June 2010

Troubled Images ProductsTroubled Images Products

Troubled Images CD-rom. Troubled Images CD-rom. Contains c.3,600 images Contains c.3,600 images with accompanying notes with accompanying notes and thematic essaysand thematic essays

Troubled Imagesbook for schools.Aimed at 13-14 year

old students