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Demolition Dave
Brown Thomas
Irish Eviction
I was aware of the original work "An Irish Eviction" by Daniel MacDonald, a powerful depiction of a family being evicted during the Great Famine (c. 1850). I knew that Adam Doyle had digitally replaced the original 19th-century figures with images of contemporary Gardaí (Irish police) and private security personnel, often seen in modern eviction scenarios.
This modern artwork ignited debate upon its resurfacing in 2023 after the Irish government ended an eviction ban. Some see it as a poignant commentary on Ireland's housing crisis and the historical trauma of evictions. Others criticise its portrayal of An Garda Síochána.
Note: Gardaí are not actively removing people from their homes during an eviction. That is typically carried out by a sheriff or private security personnel.
Many recent evictions in Ireland stem from rental properties where tenants fall into arrears. In such cases, it is less likely that the Gardaí would be involved. But I am certain that, regardless, those being evicted will be traumatised.
Doyle maintains the work highlights the emotional weight of evictions within Ireland's collective memory. He draws parallels between historical landlordism and the ongoing housing struggles faced by many Irish citizens.
Daniel MacDonald emerged from the vibrant artistic community of Cork, Ireland, in the early 19th century. The son of a caricaturist, he inherited his father's eye for detail and line, demonstrating a natural talent for drawing from a young age. Initially known for his playful pen-and-ink sketches, he captured personalities and scenes of Cork with both humour and insight. These early successes, including having etchings published as a teenager, fuelled his artistic ambition.
As he matured, MacDonald's focus shifted. He became fascinated by the lives and struggles of Ireland's ordinary people. He honed his skills in various mediums – chalks, watercolours, and oils – to portray the rural labourers and urban working class with both dignity and realism. Yet, his life and career would be indelibly marked by the tragedy of the Great Famine (1845-1849). Unlike most of his contemporaries, MacDonald confronted the devastation head-on, producing stark and haunting images that captured the despair and desperation of the starving population. His most famous work, "An Irish Peasant Family Discovering the Blight of their Store", is a devastatingly iconic image of the Famine era.
Seeking wider recognition, MacDonald and his family moved to London in the mid-1840s. There, his unflinching depictions of the Famine garnered attention and a degree of critical acclaim. Tragically, his promising career was cut short when he died at the young age of 32 in 1853.
Though his life was brief, his legacy remains important. MacDonald stands as one of the few Irish artists of his time to directly confront the horrors of the Great Famine, offering a raw and unflinching visual record of a defining period in Irish history. His works remain important for their historical value as well as their poignant depiction of human suffering and resilience.
Adam Doyle is a contemporary Irish artist and illustrator whose work often blends pop-culture references, satirical humour, and social commentary. Working digitally as well as with traditional mediums, Doyle draws inspiration from sources ranging from comic books to classic paintings. He is known for a distinct style that often features bold outlines and a raw, unfinished quality. His work frequently sparks conversation and even controversy by challenging societal norms or highlighting social injustices.
As already mentioned, one of Doyle's most discussed pieces is his reworking of Daniel MacDonald's "An Irish Eviction". This digital alteration overlays figures of contemporary Gardaí and security personnel onto the historical depiction of a Famine-era eviction. This image has generated debate about Ireland's housing crisis, historical memory, and the role of protest art.
Doyle's work often touches upon themes of Irish identity, social inequality, and the power dynamics within society. He is an active presence on social media, where he shares his art and engages with his audience, fostering discussions about the deeper meanings behind his creations.
Irish art, Eviction art,Protest art, Daniel MacDonald, Adam Doyle, The Great Famine, Housing crisis, Historical memory, Spicebag, gardaí, private security workers,Arbour Hill in Dublin, Dublin 7,
This modern artwork ignited debate upon its resurfacing in 2023 after the Irish government ended an eviction ban. Some see it as a poignant commentary on Ireland's housing crisis and the historical trauma of evictions. Others criticise its portrayal of An Garda Síochána.
Note: Gardaí are not actively removing people from their homes during an eviction. That is typically carried out by a sheriff or private security personnel.
Many recent evictions in Ireland stem from rental properties where tenants fall into arrears. In such cases, it is less likely that the Gardaí would be involved. But I am certain that, regardless, those being evicted will be traumatised.
Doyle maintains the work highlights the emotional weight of evictions within Ireland's collective memory. He draws parallels between historical landlordism and the ongoing housing struggles faced by many Irish citizens.
Daniel MacDonald emerged from the vibrant artistic community of Cork, Ireland, in the early 19th century. The son of a caricaturist, he inherited his father's eye for detail and line, demonstrating a natural talent for drawing from a young age. Initially known for his playful pen-and-ink sketches, he captured personalities and scenes of Cork with both humour and insight. These early successes, including having etchings published as a teenager, fuelled his artistic ambition.
As he matured, MacDonald's focus shifted. He became fascinated by the lives and struggles of Ireland's ordinary people. He honed his skills in various mediums – chalks, watercolours, and oils – to portray the rural labourers and urban working class with both dignity and realism. Yet, his life and career would be indelibly marked by the tragedy of the Great Famine (1845-1849). Unlike most of his contemporaries, MacDonald confronted the devastation head-on, producing stark and haunting images that captured the despair and desperation of the starving population. His most famous work, "An Irish Peasant Family Discovering the Blight of their Store", is a devastatingly iconic image of the Famine era.
Seeking wider recognition, MacDonald and his family moved to London in the mid-1840s. There, his unflinching depictions of the Famine garnered attention and a degree of critical acclaim. Tragically, his promising career was cut short when he died at the young age of 32 in 1853.
Though his life was brief, his legacy remains important. MacDonald stands as one of the few Irish artists of his time to directly confront the horrors of the Great Famine, offering a raw and unflinching visual record of a defining period in Irish history. His works remain important for their historical value as well as their poignant depiction of human suffering and resilience.
Adam Doyle is a contemporary Irish artist and illustrator whose work often blends pop-culture references, satirical humour, and social commentary. Working digitally as well as with traditional mediums, Doyle draws inspiration from sources ranging from comic books to classic paintings. He is known for a distinct style that often features bold outlines and a raw, unfinished quality. His work frequently sparks conversation and even controversy by challenging societal norms or highlighting social injustices.
As already mentioned, one of Doyle's most discussed pieces is his reworking of Daniel MacDonald's "An Irish Eviction". This digital alteration overlays figures of contemporary Gardaí and security personnel onto the historical depiction of a Famine-era eviction. This image has generated debate about Ireland's housing crisis, historical memory, and the role of protest art.
Doyle's work often touches upon themes of Irish identity, social inequality, and the power dynamics within society. He is an active presence on social media, where he shares his art and engages with his audience, fostering discussions about the deeper meanings behind his creations.
Irish art, Eviction art,Protest art, Daniel MacDonald, Adam Doyle, The Great Famine, Housing crisis, Historical memory, Spicebag, gardaí, private security workers,Arbour Hill in Dublin, Dublin 7,
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UPDATES JULY 2023
JULY 2023
NEW SECTION DEVOTED TO PUBLIC ART
The new quick blog devoted to Public Art and related topics is fast and sparse and may be best suited for mobile applications.
Irish sculptor Brian King studied at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin, where he later served as Head of the Department of Sculpture from 1984 to 2004. His large-scale painted metal sculptures imbue abstract geometric form with the emotions and movement of colour. King exhibited extensively in Ireland and Europe from the 1960s. He showed at the Irish Exhibition of Living Art from 1964 to 1978, and represented Ireland at the Paris Biennale in 1969 and 1983. His work is held in many public collections including Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane; Crawford Municipal Gallery, Cork, and the University of Ulster.
UPDATES JULY 2023
JULY 2023
FIRST SESSION WAS A VISIT TO TRINITY COLLEGE
Enrique Carbajal González was born in Chihuahua, Northern Mexico, shortly after the end of the Second World War. The artist adopted the pseudonym ‘Sebastián’ after the painting of the martyred Saint Sebastian by Sandro Botticelli. He is best known for his monumental public sculptures, created using steel or concrete, which can now be seen throughout the world. There are currently four of these sculptures in Ireland, all of which have been generously donated by the artist.
TRIBUTE TO LUKE KELLYLIFE SIZE BRONZE BY JOHN COLL
Luke Kelly's legacy and contributions to Irish music and culture have been described as "iconic" and have been captured in a number of documentaries and anthologies.
The influence of his Scottish grandmother was influential in Kelly's help in preserving important traditional Scottish songs such as "Mormond Braes", the Canadian folk song "Peggy Gordon", Robert Burns' "Parcel of Rogues", "Tibbie Dunbar", Hamish Henderson's "Freedom Come-All-Ye", and Thurso Berwick's "Scottish Breakaway".
The influence of his Scottish grandmother was influential in Kelly's help in preserving important traditional Scottish songs such as "Mormond Braes", the Canadian folk song "Peggy Gordon", Robert Burns' "Parcel of Rogues", "Tibbie Dunbar", Hamish Henderson's "Freedom Come-All-Ye", and Thurso Berwick's "Scottish Breakaway".
DUEL BY ANA DUNCANSCULPTURE IN CONTEXT 1 SEPTEMBER 2022
Ana Duncan was born in Dublin. She works primarily in bronze and ceramic from her studio in Churchtown. The female figure has constantly been the subject and inspiration for her work. Amongst her influences are the abstraction of Henry Moore, the voluminous figures of Fernando Botero, Barbara Hepworth’s modernist work, the simplicity of Brancusi and the sculptures of Juan Muñoz among others.
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