Writing by PHATS (ig) for HTN 2020 in Kent Street, Belfast.
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Phats Waller
Belfast city centre
Mother Of God
Filming for season six of the BBC police drama Line Of Duty has been taking place in various Belfast locations over the last few weeks. Enniskillen native Adrian Dunbar plays Superintendent Ted Hastings, who likewise has a background in the north, and, although now working (somewhere!) in the English midlands occasionally uses various expressions from home such as “I didn’t float up the Lagan in a bubble” (meaning “I wasn’t born yesterday” or “I’m no fool”), “Now we’re sucking diesel” (“motoring along” or “doing well”), and this enty’s title (an expression of shock).
The mural is by Waterford artist Caoilfhionn Hanton (web | ig | Fb) in Kent Street for HTN 2020.
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Kayos Kat
Don’t mess with the kitty by KAYOS (of FA Krew ig) in the top part of Kent Street, for HTN 2020.
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In The Land Of The Cyclops
When you come home from work one afternoon to find that your back window has been blinded by a giant poster of three fashionable ladies, each with one eye covered, images from i-D magazine which turns its name sideways to form a winking face, the only appropriate recourse would be to take a large knife and cut yourself a peeper. The pigeons by KVLR and Apache Tribe have yet to peck their way free of the flower-headed man to uncover the window on the Gresham Street side.
The images were part of the 2019 Belfast Photo Festival. Covered over is NOTA’s 2013 Belfast Butcher
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Playing To Beat The Band
“A Wee City For Everyone”. The old BHS store in Corn Market, Belfast, is (still) being redeveloped. In the meantime, an accordion player joins David McMillan’s (web | ig) marching band on the hoarding around the site. Originally for Culture Night Belfast in 2019-09.
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Black Wives Matter
Probably a joke, but perhaps indicative of the competition between race and gender to be the dominant category of social analysis in the last few years. Class comes a distant third at the moment (but we’ll have a gallery of Workers’ Party posters tomorrow).
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Freedom Of Religion
St Mary’s in the city centre is open, but with precautions against the spread of coronavirus. A one-way system is in effect. Seating is in alternate pews. “No singing; no loud talking.” And the use of holy water is “temporarily” suspended.
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No Signal
JJB Sports went into receivership in 2012 and the Royal Avenue shop was (is?) to become a Wetherspoons (Future Belfast). In the meantime, the hoarding is used by Leo Boyd (web | ig | Fb). Welcome to the simulation!
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Every Cloud
“Summer” continues today with showers and a high temperature of 18. Danni Simpson (web | ig) helps us keep perspective on the Norn Iron weather: “no rain, no flowers”. She has also painted the scaffold at the North Street end of Garfield Street – see the final image, preceded by a 2019 shot from when the scaffolding was raised.
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The Gateway Is Love
William Swanston, with partner Thomas Bones, commissioned a new building for their linen collar and cuff concern, to be raised in 1890 at the corner of Queen and College streets. Arthur Chichester, flanked by the coats of arms of Belfast and Ulster, looks down over the now-unused doorway. (For more, see the excellent page at History Hub Ulster.) Swanston House is known to many in Belfast as the home of the Athletic Stores and the Educational Company; the facade was retained for its current incarnation ‘The Roost’, a student dormitory.
“‘Soul is deep, essence is beauty, the journey is freedom & the gateway is love’ – Beatrix.”
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