A CERAMIC mural celebrating Scotland’s female human rights defenders has been unveiled in Aberdeen as part of Amnesty International’s Suffragette Spirit project.
The work by leading artist Carrie Reichardt, which uses classic revolutionary imagery and the suffragette colours of purple, green and white, includes Scottish women nominated for recognition by the human rights charity.
A self-styled “craftivist”, Reichardt blurs the boundaries between craft and activism using the techniques of muralism, mosaic and screen-printing to create intricate, highly-politicised artworks.
“To celebrate 100 years of women getting the vote, I thought it would be great to make this piece to celebrate the Suffragette Spirit that still lives on in Aberdeen,” she said. “I hope it will be a fitting honour to all those ordinary women who have done extraordinary things to advance human rights for all.
“When you look around most UK city centres, there is very little historical public art that celebrates the life and deeds of women. It is fantastic that Aberdeen will have three works focused on the history of women’s struggle for equality and highlighting contemporary women who are continuing the struggle for equal rights.”
Glasgow Girl Amal Azzudin, one of the human rights defenders featured, said she was “truly honoured and grateful to be chosen as a woman who embodies the Suffragette Spirit”. She said: “I am a huge supporter of Amnesty International’s work so this means a lot to me. I stand in solidarity with all the women fighting for a better world and the 100 women on hunger strike who are currently in detention in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre.”
The mural was unveiled as part of Nuart Aberdeen, a new international platform designed to not only present the most interesting and relevant street art of its time, but also activate and inspire an emergent local scene while encouraging creative collaborations with Norwegian twin city Stavanger.
Developed in collaboration with Aberdeen Inspired and Aberdeen City Council, Nuart Aberdeen provides a platform for local, national and international artists to showcase their work through a series of site-specific murals, installations, interventions, and temporary exhibitions.
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