Maribor, second biggest city in Slovenia and this year’s Cultural Capital is host to Derry’s acclaimed Bogside Artists.

Their mural, which will form the centrepiece of the coming cultural festival will be unveiled by His Holiness The Dalai Lama on 17th May 2012.

The artists are fresh from their recent USA trip where they were feted by the universities of Bonaventure and Boston College.

This is a rare and unique coming together of cultures of Ireland, Slovenia and Tibet, factors that the artists have incorporated into theirmural in progress. For the artists this is an incredibly significant honour and accolade. Said spokesman Tom Kelly. ” We have been fortunate throughout the years to have enjoyed recognition and respect abroad and we are indeed grateful to the city of Maribor and its organizing council for giving us a wonderful centre stage on which to share our creative journey. And that is why we have decided to make a direct visual link between the Annette McGavigan schoolgirl mural from The People’s Gallery in the Bogside, Derry, which has proved to be one of the most popular of our creations and this mural which will highlight to the best of our ability the horrendous plight of the oppressed people of Tibet. We look forward immensely to meeting with their leader the Dalai Lama whose mission of peace, mutual respect and understanding in the world which has been our own foundation and mission for so many years. We see this as also an honour for the people of Derry and especially for all those who have supported us and The People’s Gallery. Like us, they are more than familiar with the abuses of human rights.”

The Bogside Artists created all of the twelve murals of The People’s Gallery. These murals depict the key events of the troubles in N.Ireland and especially those events that impacted the people of Derry and the Bogside whose story the artists felt impelled to tell via the art of mural painting. These huge murals are visited by many thousands of people each year.

The artists began painting their mural for Maribor today 19th April. It will be unveiled by the Dalai Lama on 17th May.

For further information please contact the Art of Reconciliation website. Or visit their own website at www.bogsideartists.com.

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