A large-scale art installation showing two huge interlinked hands spanning the width of the lawns of Parliament Buildings at Stormont has been unveiled.
Beyond Walls, a new lawn fresco of intertwined hands, was created by the Swiss-based French graffiti artist Saype and is part of the Belfast Photo Festival.
The work made a human chain with over 30 other cities around the world who have also participated in the art installation with previous iterations appearing in Ouagadougou, Paris, Geneva, Dubai and many other locations.
The artwork extends over an area of 45 by 240 metres and is created using biodegradable pigments made of charcoal and chalk. It will gradually fades away with the growth of the grass.
According to Saype, who is committed to eco-friendly methods in his work, said his latest creation in Belfast "advocates solidarity, dialogue and friendship beyond geographical and societal constraints around the world".
Michael Weir, director of the Belfast Photo Festival, said "Saype’s artworks are best perceived by drone, a lens in the sky, opening up questions how we access an art piece, even when the vantage point is out of our physical reach.
"Due to the fleeting lifespan of his art, photography is an integral part of the process, capturing the tangible presence and preserving its message for people to enjoy, even when the physical piece has long disappeared."
The Beyond Walls project is on display at Stormont as part of the Belfast Photo Festival, which runs until June 30.
