Unique & humorous colouring book produced in Colouring the Past programme

A unique new colouring book has been produced by participants on a community engagement programme exploring life in Northern Ireland. 

Delivered by the Linen Hall Library, the programme set out to create a community produced colouring book of stories from across the region through its landmarks, events, people and lifestyles.

Following workshops from journalist and writer Malachi O’Doherty, photographer Christopher Barr and broadcaster and comedian Tim McGarry, a group of participants were tasked to submit photographs of places and things that hold a significance to them or to their past. Submitted images were then transformed into line drawings to create the unique publication below:

Photographs are accompanied by short reflections on the meaning behind the moments captured - touching on aspects of politics, coronavirus, the environment and our more turbulent history.

As part of the project, participants were also sent some blank line drawings from the archives at Belfast Exposed Gallery. Depicting murals, peace walls, 12th of July revellers and St Patrick’s day celebrations, our participants’ responses brought a fresh approach to the memory and representation of our past. You can also see some of those artistic creations in the book.