20

20 is a project by Kabosh in response to the 20th anniversary of the 1994 IRA ceasefire. Through music, performance installation and digital media, we hope to capture thoughts and feelings of the time, and reflect on where Northern Ireland is now, 20 years on.

Kabosh commissioned renowned Lurgan composer Conor Mitchell to create a 20-minute piece of classical music in response to 20 years since the 1994 IRA ceasefire.  The composition was performed live at 12 noon on the 1st September 2014, at the gates of Belfast City Hall.

Artistic statement from Conor Mitchell:

“On 31st August, 1994 the IRA announced a “complete cessation of military operations”. Twenty years later (2014) this landmark anniversary, will, for many reasons, go uncelebrated. As an artist, I feel passionately about speaking about and to the society I live in. I want to create a piece of music that combines professional musicians with performers who were born in 1994 and are now 20 years old. I want audiences to see what real peace is all about; the 20 years olds performing in front of you who embody that process.  This project will engage with young people across NI, at a time when emerging protest and violence threatens the peace process. I have always sought to use music and theatre to engage with such issues. More importantly, it will create a powerful image: musicians who are as old as the ceasefire who have a voice of their own.”

 In October 2014, supported by Stratagem, Kabosh commissioned Belfast visual artist Lesley Cherry to create a 3D installation in response to the 20th anniversary of the 1994 ceasefires utilising the composition.  This took place in The Dome at the top of Victoria Centre, as part of the Belfast Festival at Queen’s 2014.  The location was selected as an iconic image on Belfast’s skyline conveying the redevelopment of the city since the end of the conflict, and offers a complete view of the entire city.  As audiences entered the dome they were greeted by estate agents (Jo Donnelly and Mary Moulds) and given a sales brochure for Belfast written by Vincent Higgins:

Superb Detached City in Excellent Convenient Location

Surrounded by picturesque hills, this lively metropolis features south-facing gardens, a thriving port, two airports and a variety of road & motorway connectivity. A colourful history with a huge potential for development.

A website and recording booth were built to gather memories sparked by the experience.

You can watch here