URBAN EXPRESSION BY THE URBAN CARTOGRAPHER

There Is Much To See Here

Dublin City Council

HERBERT HABITAT AN EXAMPLE OF STREET ART AT THE HIVE IN HERBERT PARK

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PHOTOGRAPHED USING A SONY A7RIV

I was unable to properly photograph this artwork as there were children playing at being “pirates” in the immediate area.

“Herbert Habitat,” a vibrant piece of street art, graces the walls of The Hive in Herbert Park, Dublin 4. Commissioned by Dublin City Council Parks and Biodiversity, the artwork was created by artists selected through the Dublin Canvas initiative.

The Hive in Herbert Park is a community centre that offers a variety of spaces for rent. These spaces can be used for meetings, yoga, pilates, dance, drama, and other activities. It is a valuable resource for local groups and organisations looking for a place to meet or hold events.  

MURALS – DOMINICK STREET DREAMS

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A REAL DUB STANDING BESIDE ME AT THE TRAM STOP DESCRIBED IT AS THE DOMINICK STREET NIGHTMARE

I have a suspicion that the whole redevelopment proposal is aspirational – I say this because for decades the City Council has promised that the Social Flats complexes on Dominick Street were to be redeveloped. To be fair the blocks across the street have been demolished and redeveloped but it took decades. In my opinion, the apartments that are current scheduled to be refurbished are in no way suitable.

Dominick Street Lower: A Model for Climate-Resilient Social Housing

In line with Dublin City Council’s ambitious climate action plan, Climate Neutral Dublin 2030, three blocks of flats on Dominick Street Lower are undergoing a deep retrofit. This project aims to showcase how older social housing can be transformed into low-carbon, climate-resilient homes while maintaining high quality and comfort for residents.

More Than Just Bricks and Mortar

This initiative goes beyond simply improving energy efficiency. It’s about creating a sustainable and vibrant community. Here’s how:

“Your Back Garden”: The vacant car park in Dominick Lane is being transformed into a temporary communal garden for residents to enjoy during the retrofit process. This green space provides a much-needed oasis in the urban landscape and fosters a sense of community.

Celebrating Sustainability Through Art: To highlight the project’s commitment to climate action, DCC commissioned a striking mural on the construction hoarding. This vibrant artwork animates the street and raises awareness about sustainable living.

The Mural and Artists

The mural, titled “Dominick Street Dreams”, is a collaborative creation by four talented artists:

Kathrina Rupit: Known for her bold graphic style and vibrant colours, often incorporating elements of nature and fantasy.
Claire Prouvost: A Dublin-based French artist specialising in large-scale murals that celebrate diversity and human connection, with a distinctive Cubist influence.
Friz: A street artist whose work explores themes of social justice and environmentalism, often using stencils and spray paint.
Emily Robyn Archer: An illustrator and muralist with a whimsical style, known for creating playful characters and imaginative scenes.
Together, these artists have produced a captivating mural that reflects the spirit of community, sustainability, and renewal. It’s a testament to Dublin City Council’s commitment to integrating art into urban regeneration projects.

The Original Vision: A Public-Private Partnership

The initial plan for Dominick Street’s regeneration involved a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). This meant the Dublin City Council would collaborate with a private developer to overhaul the entire area, including the social housing flats.

The Developer’s Exit

The private developer involved in the PPP was Bernard McNamara. Unfortunately, his company ran into significant financial difficulties during the Irish property crash in the late 2000s. This led to:

Project Stall: The Dominick Street regeneration project stalled as McNamara’s company struggled.
PPP Collapse: Ultimately, the PPP collapsed, leaving the project in limbo.

The Aftermath and New Approach

Following the collapse of the PPP, Dublin City Council had to reassess its approach to the Dominick Street regeneration. This led to:

Phased Redevelopment: Instead of a single, large-scale project, the Council opted for a phased approach, tackling different parts of Dominick Street separately.  
Focus on Social Housing: The initial focus shifted to redeveloping the social housing complexes on the east side of Dominick Street Lower, which had been vacated due to their poor condition.

New Partnerships: The Council sought new partnerships and funding sources to move forward with the regeneration.
Delays and Challenges

Even with this revised approach, the Dominick Street regeneration faced further delays and challenges:

Funding Constraints: Securing adequate funding for social housing projects remained a challenge in the post-crash economic climate.
Planning and Design: The planning and design process for complex urban regeneration projects can be time-consuming, involving consultations, approvals, and revisions.

Relocating Residents: Finding suitable alternative accommodation for residents of the existing flats was a crucial step that sometimes caused delays.

Current Status

As of now, the east side of Dominick Street Lower has been successfully redeveloped, with new social housing units, a community centre, and commercial spaces. However, the original vision for a comprehensive regeneration of the entire Dominick Street area, including the refurbishment of the remaining flats, remains unfulfilled.   It should be noted that the commercial spaces are vacant.

The Future of Dominick Street Lower Flats

The future of the flats on the west side of Dominick Street Lower remains uncertain. While the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 mentions their refurbishment, the lack of recent concrete information raises concerns about the timeline and feasibility of this project.

STREET ARTISTS IN DUBLIN FACE A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES

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STREET ART ON HALLIDAY ROAD IN STONEYBATTER

Halliday Road is a residential street located in the Stoneybatter neighbourhood, known for its mix of traditional cottages and more modern homes. Stoneybatter is a popular area with a village-like feel despite being close to Dublin’s city centre.

Two large-scale murals on the gable ends of houses in Stoneybatter were commissioned by Dublin City Council, and this is one of them. Unfortunately my view was obstructed by people and parked cars.

Chris Judge is an illustrator, artist, and children’s picture book author from Dublin, Ireland. Since 2011, Chris has written and illustrated over 35 children’s books, often collaborating with authors like Roddy Doyle, David O’Doherty, and Eoin Colfer. His first book, The Lonely Beast, won the 2011 Specsavers Irish Children’s Book of the Year Award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.

Chris also creates large-scale artworks, most notably three large mosaics in collaboration with Triskill Design for Stanhope Street School in Dublin, Scoil Bhride in Kildare, and Mountrath Community School.

Street artists in Dublin face a number of challenges, including:

Legal Restrictions and Planning Permission: Dublin City Council takes a firm stance on street art, often requiring artists to obtain planning permission before painting murals. This can be a time-consuming and bureaucratic process, discouraging spontaneous expression which is a core element of street art. Occasionally, works are removed even if the building owner has consented.

Conflicting Views on Art: While many people appreciate the vibrancy and creativity that street art brings to urban spaces, others view it as vandalism or a nuisance. This can lead to tension with authorities and property owners.

Lack of Designated Spaces: Dublin lacks sufficient dedicated spaces for street artists to legally practice their craft. This leaves artists feeling limited and makes it difficult for them to showcase their work without risking legal consequences.

Competition: Dublin has a thriving street art scene. This fosters healthy competition but can also make it difficult for artists to gain recognition and stand out, especially for newcomers to the scene.

Economic Hardship: Like many artists, street artists in Dublin often struggle financially. Their art can be a source of income, but it might be inconsistent and unpredictable, especially if they face legal hurdles or lack of public recognition.

Initiatives and Organizations:

Some organisations are working to support street artists in Dublin and improve their circumstances. Groups like Subset advocate for greater acceptance of street art and lobby for the creation of more legal spaces for artists to express themselves. Such initiatives can potentially increase understanding and opportunities for street artists within Dublin’s community.

TRANSFORMATIVE URBAN LANDSCAPES

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URBAN EXPRESSION AT ARBOUR HILL BY SUBSET

Transformative Urban Landscapes: Subset’s Street Art in Ireland

Street art often serves as a vibrant and disruptive element within an urban landscape. In Ireland, the Dublin-based art collective Subset has gained prominence for its bold and thought-provoking murals that enliven city walls. Formed over a decade ago, the group is known for its diverse range of styles and its exploration of cultural icons alongside witty social commentary.

While street art’s ephemeral nature contributes to its allure, Subset’s ongoing Grey Area project has highlighted the challenges artists face in Ireland. The project emerged as a response to Dublin City Council’s approach to large-scale public artworks. Subset’s aim is to simplify the planning processes for street artists, ultimately seeking to transform Dublin into an open-air gallery.

Among Subset’s most iconic works is the 2017 mural dedicated to the grime rapper Stormzy, which graced Smithfield Plaza. The mural not only became a popular selfie spot but stood as a rare celebration of a Black artist within the Irish arts scene. Other notable Subset murals include their pieces featuring global figures like Donald Trump and David Attenborough, often infused with Subset’s signature brand of bold satire.

Alongside their independent street art, Subset has collaborated with established brands, demonstrating the growing impact and recognition of street art within contemporary advertising and visual communication. As the battle for artistic freedom in urban spaces continues, Subset remains at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of the Irish street art scene.

Let me know if want me to focus on any specific examples of Subset’s work.

THIS MURAL IS TO REMAIN ON THE GABLE WALL AT LONGWOOD AVENUE

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A TRIBUTE TO DAVID ATTENBOROUGH

Today I had an appointment at Harolds’s Cross so I decided to walk there and visit Longwood Avenue, on my way, in order to check if this large mural had survived the legal and official attempts to have it removed.

In June 2022 it was announced that Dublin City Council was to drop its prosecution of art group Subset for three prominent street murals – including this one celebrating the life of David Attenborough.

In November 2019 I upload photographs of this mural and included the following comment: “Dublin City Council has ordered that a mural of David Attenborough on the side of a property in south Dublin should be removed. An entity or group known as Subset had recently created the Street Art tribute to David Attenborough on his 93rd birthday.”

The David Attenborough Mural is a large-scale street mural located on the gable wall of a house on South Circular Road facing onto Longwood Avenue in Dublin 8, Ireland. It was painted in 2019 by the artist collective SUBSET to mark the renowned naturalist and broadcaster’s 93rd birthday. The mural depicts Attenborough in his signature khaki jacket and hat, standing next to a group of animals, including a penguin, a lion, and an elephant. The mural is vibrantly coloured and features a stylised depiction of the natural world.

The mural was controversial from the start, as it was painted without planning permission from Dublin City Council. The council eventually ordered the mural to be removed, but this decision was met with widespread public opposition. A petition to save the mural attracted over 10,000 signatures, and the council eventually dropped its prosecution of the artists.

The David Attenborough Mural is now considered to be a popular tourist attraction in Dublin. It is a reminder of the city’s vibrant street art scene and its appreciation for the natural world.

PAINT-A-BOX STREET ART BY JULIETTE O’BRIEN

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AT LOLLY AND COOKS ON MERRION STREET

Juliette O’Brien designed and painted 9 mini murals on traffic light boxes for the Dublin Canvas project during the summers between 2017 and 2020. The project is a competitive opportunity for artists to submit art to be chosen by DCC to brighten up Dublin City.

Lolly And Cooks is a family run business dedicated in producing deliciously fresh savouries and cakes directly from their own bakery in Dublin.

Most of their ingredients come directly from the family farm in Tipperary, where sustainability is at the forefront of the operation.

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