Abandoned N.I.

In partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Cultural Expression, Belfast Exposed is proud to present the BIEN (British? Irish? Either? Neither?) Project, three interconnected exhibitions that seek to address identity in Northern Ireland in a balanced, inclusive and respectful way.

The structure of three exhibitions is deliberate. The two solo exhibitions offer focused reflections on two cultural heritages in Northern Ireland, namely Ulster-Scots through abandoned spaces, and the Irish language via its mythical landscapes. These two exhibitions create space for depth, care and celebration, affirming the importance of cultural memory as living, evolving practices. The group exhibition brings together artists who are either from or based in Northern Ireland, reflecting the reality of a society that has changed profoundly over recent years, offering perspectives that are intimate, critical, compassionate and reflective.

The solo exhibition Abandoned N.I. by Rebecca Brownlie, focuses on Northern Ireland’s built heritage, rural landscapes and everyday environments as sites of memory and cultural continuity. Working in collaboration with Ulster-Scots writers, her practice highlights how language, place and storytelling preserve identity across generations. Even in the face of decay and seeming dereliction. The exhibition acknowledges Ulster-Scots/Ulster British Ulstèr-Scotch and Ulstèr-Bïtisch cultural expression in a way that is inclusive, reflective and accessible.