From Middle Eastern tiles to a Romanian blouse and from Scottish tartan to tenement tiles. Each letter of the stunning new Govanhill mural represents a different aspect of our incredible local community. The mural, created by the Govanhill Open Museum stands as a colourful celebration of the community’s diversity. Inspired by old postcard designs, each letter of Govanhill features a pattern found by the local community.

Photo by local resident Ashleigh Morrison

By Rhiannon Davies and Jack Howse

The mural, which sits just off South Annandale Street on the side wall of A Gray Motors depicts the neighbourhood’s name in graphic lettering; each letter designed distinctly in differing patterns. The letters are then surrounded by the colourful flowers of spring that seem to bask in the clear blue skies of late March Govanhill.

The patterns were picked and designed with a number of Govanhillians and represent traditional prints of nations around the world and celebrates the cultural diversity of the neighbourhood.

Local resident Ashleigh Morrison, whose flat looks out over the new mural location, said:

“I think the murals are going to make a tremendous positive impact on Govanhill. Just now my street depresses me and I don’t like to invite people over to my house because of it. However, I do believe that by having a lovely bright mural outside my house will make a huge positive impact on the look of the area! It will encourage residents to take pride in the area and invite visitors. It will make me proud to say that I live in South Annandale Street – across from the amazing mural!”

Where do the patterns of the Govanhill mural come from?

G: Influenced by South Asian clothing and designs contributed for the mural by a resident from Sri Lanka. Similar motifs can also be seen in tenement tiles. The 6-petal flowers are influenced by the windows of Trinity Church on Daisy Street.

O: A popular Romanian embroidery motif, as featured on an almost 200-year old blouse brought to Govanhill from Transylvania.

V: This Middle Eastern design (especially popular in Iran, Turkey, and many Arab countries) can be spotted at numerous locations around Govanhill, including mosques and shops, as well as residents’ homes. Govanhill Baths also used to have a Turkish baths suite, where similar tiles would have been seen.

A: Scottish tartan pattern from the kilt of a member of a traditional bagpipe and drumming band who lives in Govanhill.

N: This box, which belonged to the grandmother of a Govanhill resident, features a traditional Polish pattern of pansies. Wild flowers such as these can be seen in traditional designs across Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, and nearby countries. Wycinanka, or cutout paper art, as seen in the letter N is a traditional craft in parts of Poland.

H: The celtic knot is an ancient design found across Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and further afield. The Claddagh, as seen in the stained glass Irish Diversity Window at Govanhill Library, is one of Ireland’s most recognised and precious images, symbolising the purity of a cherished relationship.

I: Kente (also known as nwetoma, kete or chinchini) is a Ghanaian textile, made of handwoven cloth, strips of silk and cotton. Historically the fabric was worn by royalty. Similar designs can be seen in other types of weaving from around the world, including Central and Far East Asia, and South America.

L: This leopard print design was submitted by a Roma lady from Govanhill, and it certainly seems a prominent feature in the local street fashion.

L: This is the stained glass design above the door of Langside Synagogue on Niddrie Road. A member of the Jewish community in Govanhill highlighted its importance, especially given the recent campaign to have the building listed.

How the project came together

Govanhill Open Museum is a collaboration on heritage between some of the many community-led groups in Govanhill, including Govanhill Community Development Trust and Govanhill Housing Association, to create a museum throughout the neighbourhood including a trail that lines the streets of Govanhill. Eight public sessions, each one made accessible for different groups in the community, brought people together to share stories, memories, and ideas to help shape the project.

Speaking about the mural, Marzanna Antoniak and Marion Eele, project coordinators said:

“The aim of this project is to bring Govanhill’s unique built and cultural heritage out onto the streets where everyone can share in it and take pride in our vibrant neighbourhood. We will also be collaborating with residents who live at the locations of the artworks to continue improving their areas, taking it towards further regeneration of their little patches of Govanhill. Designed by locals, the first mural has turned out to be a cheerful representation of the many cultures of Govanhill and we hope that there will be lots of selfies taken by proud residents and visitors alike.”

Govanhill locals have also been involved in choosing the location for the murals, as well as commissioning artists to paint them. The selected artists, duo Conzo Throb and Ciaran Glöbel, have extensive experience painting murals, and their work can be seen across Glasgow and wider Scotland. The work is inpsired by old postcard designs.

Ciaran Glöbel & Conzo Throb, mural artists said:

“Working with the members of the community during the design process was brilliant. Everyone had their own relationship with the neighbourhood and many came from really diverse backgrounds so it was a rare opportunity to witness all of these thoughts and stories and opinions all come together to reach a final goal. The physical painting of the mural was really enjoyable too. We built up relationships with the locals who would pass by and stop to chat to us on a daily basis. We now have new friends in Govanhill who we look forward to bumping into again.”

The S. Annandale Street mural is the first of two murals coming to Govanhill this spring as part of the project’s pilot phase, which was funded by Glasgow City Heritage Trust and Scotland's Towns Partnership through their Scotland Loves Local campaign. In June, a second local wall is set to become another colourful painting designed by the community.

Project partners (Govanhill Community Development Trust, Govanhill Housing Association, Community Renewal, and Glasgow Museums working under the Thriving Places banner) are looking forward to seeing how Govanhill Open Museum will develop in the future.

The mural will have a mini launch event today at 5:30pm with the artists and organisers on site to show off their creation.