ART EXHIBITION BRINGS HOME THE HORRORS OF OMAGH BLAST
Art exhibition brings home the horrors of Omagh blast
By MARY LAFFERTY
m.lafferty@newsletter.co.uk
AN exhibition featuring harrowing images of the Omagh bomb will be launched today overlooking the scene of the carnage.
The exhibition - based on hard-hitting Press photographs and video stills shot during the aftermath of the tragedy- acts as a sharp reminder of those bleak days after the atrocity.
Entitled the Summer of '98, the exhibition by Castlereagh artist Ray Duncan not only focuses on the Omagh atrocity but the murder of the three Quinn children who died in a sectarian arson attack in Ballymoney the same year.
Capturing the two worst tragedies of that fateful time on canvas "lends a fractured quality to the images and adds to the sense of shock and disbelief at the loss of innocent life", said the artist.
He explained that his work was born out of anger over both tragedies but has evolved to become a commemoration of the individual lives lost.
The 14 different images have take over two years to complete and are depicted in different artistic styles - oil on canvas, charcoal studies and prints.
An award-winning artist, Ray teaches art at Castlereagh College and has been painting scenes from the Troubles since they began.
The Omagh Support and Self-Help Group have brought his work to the town.
A spokeswoman said: "We felt it was appropriate to bring the exhibition so local people can view it. Through mediums like this no one will forget those who died and were affected by this disaster and that's important."
The exhibition can be seen at the Tourist Information Centre, 1 Market Street, Omagh, and will run until November 26.
By MARY LAFFERTY
m.lafferty@newsletter.co.uk
AN exhibition featuring harrowing images of the Omagh bomb will be launched today overlooking the scene of the carnage.
The exhibition - based on hard-hitting Press photographs and video stills shot during the aftermath of the tragedy- acts as a sharp reminder of those bleak days after the atrocity.
Entitled the Summer of '98, the exhibition by Castlereagh artist Ray Duncan not only focuses on the Omagh atrocity but the murder of the three Quinn children who died in a sectarian arson attack in Ballymoney the same year.
Capturing the two worst tragedies of that fateful time on canvas "lends a fractured quality to the images and adds to the sense of shock and disbelief at the loss of innocent life", said the artist.
He explained that his work was born out of anger over both tragedies but has evolved to become a commemoration of the individual lives lost.
The 14 different images have take over two years to complete and are depicted in different artistic styles - oil on canvas, charcoal studies and prints.
An award-winning artist, Ray teaches art at Castlereagh College and has been painting scenes from the Troubles since they began.
The Omagh Support and Self-Help Group have brought his work to the town.
A spokeswoman said: "We felt it was appropriate to bring the exhibition so local people can view it. Through mediums like this no one will forget those who died and were affected by this disaster and that's important."
The exhibition can be seen at the Tourist Information Centre, 1 Market Street, Omagh, and will run until November 26.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/573
Published Date: 16-Nov-04
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