The Bogside Artists Go to China

The trio of muralists known as The Bogside Artists have been invited to Shenzhen, China, to paint a mural. They are the only Irish artists to have received an invitation. End Quote

Boston, MA-NH (1888PressRelease) August 08, 2010 - The trio known as The Bogside Artists have been invited to paint a mural for the newly created Dafen Museum in Shenzhen China. Situated near Hong Kong Shenzhen is considered the most progressive city in China and its cultural capital. Organizer Jeffery Zhang told Tom Kelly, spokesman for the group, that the jury were "very highly impressed" by the trio's work.

The Bogside Artists who created the twelve world famous murals of the Bogside area of Derry City, N.Ireland, were chosen among nine of the leading muralists in the world to help paint the many facades of the huge museum complex.

Recently, the murals and their community work were very instrumental in securing for Derry the accolade of UK City of Culture for 2013. These were submitted as part of the brief to the jury who were persuaded in Derry's favour by "the constructive way the city was using art to come to terms with its past".

Said spokesman Tom Kelly; "We are very honoured indeed to have been chosen by the Chinese and appreciate their high regard for our work; and the fact that we were the only Irish artists chosen. If our own people had half as much regard we would not have to go scrounging for help with our travel expenses. None of the official arts bodies or newspapers such as the Irish News or the Belfast Telegraph were willing to help us. As part of the Derry City of Culture program we will be working alongside Richard De Marco's in the planting of 12,000 oak trees in the city in celebration of the life of Josef Beuys. Our special thanks goes to Richard and Ian Hunter of Littoral for their friendship and support. It was left to an Englishman Ian Hunter to make it all happen. Political gamesmanship on the one hand and sheer jealousy and resentment from the art community on the other have dedicated themselves to keeping our work out of media. Despite this, the murals have grown in esteem world wide thanks to the thousands of visitors who flock to Derry to see them each year. That does not stop the local politicos here and in Belfast from pumping millions into promoting Derry as the "walled city" as if it was the only city in Europe with medieval walls and relegating our recent history and our depictions of it to a dumbed-down sideshow. We are looking forward to our trip to Shenzhen very much indeed and to informing the Chinese of the difficulties we must face back home just to survive at our studio in Derry."

The Bogside Artists are also staunch supporters of the family of Willy the Wizard in their struggle for justice against J.K.Rowling. You can find out more about them at www.bogsideartists.com

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