My first encounter was on College Street where two sad looking mimes mirror each others nostalgic frowns. I took a cigarette break from the noisy Grogans pub and walked around the block. I encountered a fallen angel rumored to be stenciled by Banksy himself. Her eyes portray pain from loss either of someone, something or she herself is lost in the streets. 
My overall interpretation of the street art movements is a positive one. These murals portray social commentary in some way shape or form. The sensations one gets from seeing one of these stencils are the most on target with the artists motives if put into the context of the city. I found more than one religious references within the art around Dublin. The fallen angel could be seen as a symbol of despair related to the prejudices and divide between Protestants and Catholics in Northern versus southern Ireland.
Another religious reference I found was one of my favorites. A stencil of what looks like the angel of death looms over a deadened street about fifteen meters up the side of a building next to the Andrews Lane Theater. On the same street, three sisters with black tears and running make-up eyes closed. Both of these I found by accident but I was pleasantly surprised by the detail and state of both murals.
Another religious reference I found was one of my favorites. A stencil of what looks like the angel of death looms over a deadened street about fifteen meters up the side of a building next to the Andrews Lane Theater. On the same street, three sisters with black tears and running make-up eyes closed. Both of these I found by accident but I was pleasantly surprised by the detail and state of both murals. 
Some more works I found were a combination of phrases spray-painted, small rainbow lips hidden on the wall of a shadowed ally, and giant colorful captions of animals and men. I came across a very narrow ally that said "I'd rather trust a dealer on a poorly lit street than a criminal in a three piece suit" this reminded me of the hype during the Occupy Wall-street movement but it could also represent the Southern Irish relationship with the English. The English were always the wealthier, the more prim and proper if you will and they weren't perceived to be serving Irelands best interest. Another piece I found similar to this theme was a mural of a bull that threw off its rider. Perhaps the bull could be seen as ireland throwing England off its back. 
The meaning of these works are not all clear but I do believe that is the purpose of the artist. Interpreting Dublin's street art requires a proper sense of the context of the city, the city's history, as well as its current state. I highly recommend seeing these in person, I had quite the adventure!
I'm glad you've documented some of the street art around town. I too enjoy how other cities create and deal with the art form. I'm sure you noticed many examples of graffiti on the trip to the Joyce tower. I found it interesting that, rather than tagging the trains (as in classic graffiti) the view from the train was decorated.
ReplyDeleteI also realized the amount of street art as we were passing through on the train. I think you have a lovely passion and I admire you're quality. Beauty can be find everywhere, if we only open our eyes to it.
ReplyDeleteWonderful comments and pictures on street art. You are right about New Orleans' failure to preserve Banksy's street art. To make it worse, some fanatic painted over them in some misguided notion that they were obscene!
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