Belfast Artists Splash Thai Streets with Vibrant Murals of Unity and Culture

Belfast, a city in Northern Ireland, is well known for its vibrant murals that decorate many of its streets. This weekend, some of Belfast’s most talented street artists are bringing their skills to Thailand for a new festival. The Hit the North Street Art Festival, which is the largest graffiti festival in Ireland, is launching a sister event in Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand. The festival will feature artists from Northern Ireland and Thailand working together to create large murals that explore important themes like climate change, cultural connections, and urban identity. The event will include workshops, live painting sessions, and music, and will run until Sunday.

At the center of this collaboration are three Belfast-based artists: Zippy, Eoin McGinn (who goes by Emic), and Rob Hilken. Before heading to Chiang Mai, the artists spent several days painting in Bangkok. Zippy, who helps organize the festival and works as an artist liaison, painted a mural of a golden swan on a black wall in Bangkok. The swan, known as the Hongsa Swan, is a symbol of peace and purity in Thai folklore. Zippy said she chose this image because it connects with Thai culture and also represents ideas of peace and unity, which she feels are very important right now. For her mural in Chiang Mai, Zippy will feature a centipede, another creature with special meaning in Thai stories. In northern Thailand, the centipede stands for strength, unity, and protection, and people believe it brings good luck if it enters your home. Her mural will include centipedes, native Thai flowers, and human hands to show these themes.

Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand and is located in a mountainous region called the Thai highlands. It is famous for its beautiful scenery, historic temples, and lively night markets. Alongside Zippy, Emic and Rob Hilken will also be painting murals in Chiang Mai. Emic’s mural will focus on identity and resilience, and he will work with local artists to create it. Rob Hilken will continue his Spaghetti series, which features playful, looping shapes inspired by movement and connection. Adam Turkington, the founder of Hit the North, will also participate in the festival, leading a talk about Northern Ireland’s street art movement and how festivals can help build creative communities. Since it began in 2013, the Hit the North festival has helped create more than 750 murals in Belfast, turning the city into a well-known center for urban creativity.

Zippy said she and the other artists have enjoyed reconnecting with Thai artists who visited Belfast earlier this year. One artist, Sanchi, played a key role in organizing the event in Chiang Mai and helped bring people together. The collaboration is supported by the British Council’s Connections Through Culture grants, which aim to show how creativity can cross borders. Colette Norwood, Head of Arts at British Council Northern Ireland, said the partnership builds on previous work with the Seedhead Arts team and helps Belfast’s creative energy reach new audiences overseas. Emic’s murals in Thailand will focus on identity and resilience, and Zippy said it has been wonderful to see how Belfast’s street art scene has grown and changed over time. She hopes the festival will help raise the profile of local street art in Chiang Mai and inspire new artists. Zippy believes street art is accessible and belongs to everyone, and she hopes the festival will help make it an important part of Chiang Mai’s identity, just as it is in Belfast.