My inspiration for this piece comes from F.X. Harsono’s artwork, ‘What Would You Do If These Crackers Were Real Pistols?’ Harsono created this piece as a protest against the violence of Suharto’s New Order regime in Indonesia. The government used military force to silence opposition, control the media, and target minorities.

My interpretational painting is personal to me because my dad grew up during the conflict in Northern Ireland and England. The scattered circles in my painting represent the bombs he had to check for every day near his home. While other kids did regular chores, he had the terrifying task of making sure no explosives had been planted overnight or while they weren’t looking. The number 2 represents my dad’s second cousin, who was murdered by a loyalist group called the LVF. It is outlined in red to emphasise the tragedy he faced as a child. The maps in my painting depict Ireland, with the north outlined in white and marked with a red slash, symbolising the ongoing division Ireland faces. The number 51 represents the many riots my dad witnessed growing up, with a red outline emphasising the danger, sacrifice, and struggle.

My artwork is intentionally chaotic to reflect the instability of his childhood and the struggles he and many others faced. The number 11 represents how many times his or a neighbouring school was attacked. The family figures in the bottom right corner symbolise separation, showing how the war divided people and families. The grey line running down the piece represents the physical and emotional barriers created by the conflict. I chose the colours in my background to reflect the Irish flag, symbolising my family’s heritage. The red represents pain and struggle, while the different tones of green, orange, and white create depth and maintain the theme without overwhelming the piece.

My biggest challenge was working with the messy, chaotic style, but in the end, I feel it adds to the overall message and impact. I think the most successful part of my artwork is the deep meaning behind it. Every element has a purpose, and while I made small design changes along the way, I believe they helped strengthen the final piece.

My artwork represents resilience, loss, and the impact of conflict that continues to this day. Inspired by F.X. Harsono, it tells my father’s childhood story of fear and survival during his childhood in Northern Ireland. The chaos and colours reflect his struggles, showing how the past still shapes us