In an homage to the demonstrations taking place worldwide, this work can be seen as “a building silently demonstrating”. Using texts written by local Aberdonians regarding their experiences of disillusionment and hope and hand painting them onto huge banners, this piece is meant to be seen as a tapestry of voices, a broken poem that spans the spectrum of the human experience between these two notions.

This piece was created as part of Nuart Festival, Aberdeen, Scotland, June 2024

In Addam’s words:

“I’ve grown disillusioned by so many things.

By the violence that seems inherent in us as a collective, something that has been more present than ever these past 8 months. The entire societies that have normalized and grown desensitized to the horrors carried out on our watch and dime, accepting the mass annihilation of another people. By so many that seem to have abandoned their moral footing, falling prey to manipulation and propaganda, sounding an echoing silence thus corroborating with the perpetrators of war crimes. The silence creates voids that are being utilized by fundamentalists and maniacs forsaking our lives and futures. By the police state and the boot of fascism that inches closer as we all grow accustomed to its nestling on our necks. And on and on goes.

I feel that I have no more words left, with the abyss deepening and widening every day. Writing and making art feels trivial and redundant.

This is possibly why I turned to local Aberdonians to share their experiences of disillusionment and hope, and painted them onto huge banners.

Their stories ranged from feelings of social inadequacy and the importance of family to The Troubles in Northern Ireland and the struggles of the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa. Together, their words created a tapestry of voices, a broken poem that spans the spectrum of the human experience.

The texts are open ended bearing both a tone of despair concocted with small cracks of light, reminding us that throughout many historical periods of bloody and grave injustice, there were eventually ways out.

From within this dense reality it’s hard to see these openings, but it’s our obligation to practice and nurture stubborn and persistent belief that another world is possible, and fight for it with every last essence of our being.

As loud cries sounded throughout so many demonstrations worldwide seem to fall on deaf ears, I see this piece as a silent demonstration. A form of protest that stems from disillusionment yet is deeply rooted in hope, like white flags with our shared plea brought to life on an abandoned building.”

Photos by Brian Tallman and

Tim Marschang