URBAN EXPRESSION AND DEPRESSIONPHOTOGRAPHED BY WILLIAM MURPHY

SUSSEX STREET IN DUN LAOGHAIRE

3 JULY 2025

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Photographs taken on Sussex Street in Dún Laoghaire on 3rd July 2025 capture a scene of stark contradiction. One wall of the Boylan Youth Centre bursts with a vibrant, whimsical mural, depicting a cartoonish figure gazing out at a playful cosmos. Yet, this burst of life is framed by decay. Overgrown weeds choke the pavement, bushes obscure parts of the artwork, and other views of the site reveal broken windows and a general state of dereliction. This scene presents a paradox: a building that received a "long overdue facelift" as part of a major civic art festival in 2021 now stands vacant and neglected just four years later.

WHO IS DUNCAN?

WHO IS DUNCAN

I AM NOW CONVINCED THAT DUNCAN IS IN FACT D. WESTON

The compelling proposition under investigation is that this distinctive graffiti could be the work of the British street artist Duncan Weston, known by his aliases D. Weston and Petro. This report will conduct a thorough, evidence-based investigation to assess the plausibility of this attribution. The analysis will examine the graffiti's characteristics and distribution, profile Duncan Weston, and compare the potential links and discrepancies, culminating in a nuanced conclusion and recommendations for further research.

SYMBOLS ON SUSSEX STREET

3 JULY 2025

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The distinctive symbolic artwork seen on several walls is the work of Signs of Power, the professional name for the Dublin-based artist Vanessa Power. She was one of the official artists commissioned for the 2021 Dún Laoghaire Anseo festival. The description of her work as "hieroglyphic" is an insightful observation of its visual effect. Power is a lettering artist and sign painter who merges the traditional craft with a modern, pop-art aesthetic. The symbols are not derived from ancient scripts but are part of a unique, stylised alphabet she has developed.

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