Trillian chosen to represent Belfast’s future
The BBC report that Belfast City Council have chosen Trillian, a design by Californian Portland, Oregon based artist Ed Carpenter as the Broadway Junction Public Art Project. [subject to funding - Ed] It’s certainly a striking artwork.. and will be even more so when it is illuminated at night. But.. and it’s a bugbear of mine.. unfortunately it falls into the time-honoured tradition of literalism in the artworks which civic bodies in Ireland, north and south, have a habit of commissioning.. Belfast’s Blooming.. coming to a advertising campaign near you soon.As the BBC note -
Carpenter said he felt the image of a flower could represent a post-Troubles city.
“It represents germination for the future,” he explained.
“It represents growth, transformation, evolution, and these are all subjects which are universal and which we can identify with and particularly in a city which has had some negative press around the world, this can be a very positive symbol both internally and externally.”
