A Landscape of Scars

Sally and I visited the small but superb Colin Davidson retrospective in the F.E. McWilliam Gallery in Banbridge a couple of weeks, which includes not only some of his famous portraits, but also a couple of his earliest works, Befast landscapes and a number of brighter street-scenes in both Belfast and London as seen reflected in shop windows. There was also an opportunity to view the short BBC film about his seminal "Silent Testimony" series. Viewed together they were highly moving and inspiring, prompting the words below almost instantly. At first I was wary of demeaning Colin's genius by trying to capture it in this limited piece. Then I read this article in the Irish Times and I thought I would share it after all. The last two lines are taken almost verbatim from a dialogue between Colin Davidson and journalist Barney Rowan about "Silent Testimony" in the Agape Centre at the 4 Corners Festival a number of years ago, probably one of the most powerful events in its 10 years to date.

A landscape of scars

On body, mind and spirit;

Sorrow seeping into

The scenery, shaping

The terrain irrevocably

Yet unrecognised.

A portrait of pain.

Absence made present
In paint on canvas;
Eyes reflecting what lies behind
Like a shop window of pain.
Their loss written off
For our gain.

Selah

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