HEADLESS URBAN EXPRESSION

There Is Much To See Here

street art

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.

EXAMPLES OF STREET ART IN LIMERICK

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PHOTOGRAPHED IN JUNE 2015

Examples of urban expression and street art photographed in Limerick during my 2015 visit to the city. In general I have been somewhat unimpressed by street art in Limerick even though there can be one or two excellent examples … maybe I am visiting the wrong parts of the city.

URBAN EXPRESSION IN LIMERICK JULY 2016

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A VERY LIMITED SELECTION OF STREET ART

Much of the street art that I saw in Limerick was no longer to be seen when I last visited the city in 2022 as many of the locations had been demolished.

WE ARE HERE

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URBAN EXPRESSION AT SWANVILLE PLACE IN RATHMINES

It did not occur to me, until recently, why many places in Rathmines have “swan” in the name.

The Swan River is a hidden river in Dublin, Ireland. It is one of the many rivers that were culverted in the 19th century to make way for development. The Swan River is a tributary of the River Dodder and flows underground for most of its length. It rises in Terenure and Rathmines and flows under Morehampton Road and Clyde Road before joining the Dodder near the Aviva Stadium. The Swan River is only visible in a few places, such as in the basement of the former Swan Centre in Rathmines and at the end of a culvert in Mount Pleasant Avenue.

GULLIVER MURAL BY MEAGHAN QUINN AT THE OLD MART ON SUMMERHILL ROAD IN TRIM

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I USED AN OLD CANON 5DIII CAMERA

In July 2011 Trim Tidy Town’s all-out effort to win big in the National Tidy Towns Competition included a number of striking murals springing up around the town. One of the most colourful was a depiction of Gulliver at the old mart, which has become quite a tourist attraction. Until a few days ago I was unaware of the 30ft long mural. The painting of Gulliver and other murals at Spicer’s wall on Watergate Street and underneath the bridge at the Maudlins roundabout are the work of professional artist Meaghan Quinn.

The mart was the venue for the weekly livestock sales for 53 years until 2004 is destined to be used for a housing development. TE Potterton has been trading as an auctioneers since 1886, operating weekly livestock sales at Castle Street in Trim from 1957 until it relocated to an open site less than a mile away on Summerhill Road in 1962. The Trim Mart was for many years one of the largest on the north east.

Following its opening in May 2023 by Minister Heather Humphreys, Solstice Arts Centre undertook the management duties of the new Swift Cultural Centre in Trim on behalf of Meath County Council. The name reflects both the importance of the acclaimed author of “Gulliver Travels” and Trim resident, Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), as well as the significance of the swift to Trim’s wildlife and urban ecosystem. The Swift Cultural Centre will collaborate and share meeting rooms and cultural spaces with Trim Library to provide a diverse and enriching community learning, engagement and performance programme for the public. Community use by local artists, societies and community groups remain the primary and core value of the space.
The €9m development of the theatre and library included the refurbishment of the former St. Patrick’s Chapel for use as part of the centre. With a seating capacity of up to 235 people, Swift Cultural Centre provides a much-welcomed space for local drama, music and theatre groups.

Gulliver’s Travels, or Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships is a 1726 prose satire by the Anglo-Irish writer and clergyman Jonathan Swift, satirising both human nature and the “travellers’ tales” literary subgenre. It is Swift’s best-known full-length work and a classic of English literature. Swift claimed that he wrote Gulliver’s Travels “to vex the world rather than divert it”.

The book was an immediate success. The English dramatist John Gay remarked, “It is universally read, from the cabinet council to the nursery.” In 2015, Robert McCrum released his selection list of the 100 best novels of all time, where he called Gulliver’s Travels “a satirical masterpiece”.

PHONE ZOMBIES IS A STREET ART MURAL WITH A MESSAGE LOCATED ON CAMDEN ROW

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NEAR ST KEVIN’S CEMETERY

This mural was produced by Kevin McSherry and Katherina Rupit.

Phones, tablets, even watch screens are everywhere you turn. According to Common Sense Media, teens spend an average of seven hours and 22 minutes on screens every day! And that doesn’t include computer time for schoolwork.

Some studies show that too much screen time can affect your body. Adolescence is a critical time for brain development so teens may be especially at risk. While watching videos or texting with friends is fun, it’s crucial to limit screen time.

It is interesting to note that the mural is close to the entrance to St Kevin’s Cemetery. At the start of the 19th century this cemetery, like many others in Dublin, became a target of the body-snatchers, although it was surrounded by high walls (changed to railings in the 1960s). In February 1830 a Frenchman named Nagles and his friend were attacked by a group of “sack-em-ups” lying in wait near the cemetery. The criminals’ attention was diverted by the arrival of a cart-load of dead bodies, giving Nagles the opportunity to escape and notify the police at Arran Quay, who apprehended the culprits. On one occasion a body-snatcher was chased as far as Thomas Street, where he finally dropped his booty—the body of a young girl.

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