The Titanic Quarter seems to inspire boundless creativity… light shows, drama, photography, art, spectacular events like Land Of Giants… and now NEST, a new installation/exhibition at the T13 skate park which opened today and is on display all this week (until Sunday 29th).
What is it? It’s hard to describe… it’s art made from everyday objects, inanimate objects made fascinating because they have a story attached. People from all across the province have donated simple belongings – tickets, books, hats, bracelets, shoes, gadgets… stuff that could lie hidden in a box in the roofspace, or would look like junk in a second-hand shop – but when they have a label attached, explaining their personal significance to their owner, they suddenly become art…
All human life is on display – interesting to see there was one collection of objects to do with faith and spirituality (whether seen as positive or negative – see the pic on the right, complete with the modern spelling of ‘deceit’…)
Like so much of the TQ, it is a hugely-evocative way of speaking of the past, connecting with history – without getting stuck in the history that can divide us. Personal stories and memories remind us of how much we share.
Speaking of bringing history to life (what a smooth link, eh!) the petition to save HMS Caroline is gathering steam – and if you’d like to add your name, click here.
This beautiful old warship has been part of the story of Belfast since 1924, and I would love to see her story continue here, as part of the rich mix of Titanic Quarter life, rather than (as is proposed) see her carried off on a container ship to Portsmouth. I even could dare to dream that Caroline’s story might intersect with The Dock’s story some day…
Check out this excellent video for more…
And finally, speaking of preserving our heritage (what another smooth link, eh? I’m on fire!) I had the great privilege today of getting an up-close and personal look at the dock gate in the Thompson Dock. There’s no excuse for missing this one – tours of the Dock and Pump-House now include a journey down a brand-new staircase to the bottom of the dock, where you can actually touch that beautiful old gate (made by the same men with the same metal at the same time as Titanic) and stand on the exact spot as the yardmen in this photo:
