ALL FORMS OF PUBLIC ART

Featuring All Forms Of Public Art

2017 Legacy Photo Collection

WIND SAIL SCULPTURE BY EAMON O’DOHERTY ALFIE BYRNE ROAD CLONTARF

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AUGUST 2017 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION BY WILLIAM MURPHY

Eamon O’Doherty’s Wind Sail Sculpture on Clontarf Promenade

The Clontarf promenade is a much-loved amenity, offering stunning views of Dublin Bay. But it also serves a vital purpose: protecting the area from flooding. Before the construction of the seawall, Clontarf was prone to frequent flooding due to its location and vulnerability to southeasterly gales. The promenade now acts as the main flood defence, safeguarding homes and businesses.

As you stroll along the promenade, you’ll encounter the striking “Wind Sail Sculpture”, created by Derry-born artist Eamon O’Doherty in 1988. Sadly, O’Doherty passed away in August 2011, but his artistic legacy lives on. He is renowned for his large-scale public sculptures, with over 40 located worldwide, and 30 gracing various locations throughout Ireland.

Dublin is fortunate to host six of O’Doherty’s pieces, including the iconic “Golden Tree” at Central Bank Plaza, the poignant James Connolly Memorial at Butt Bridge, and the affectionately nicknamed “Floozy in the Jacuzzi” fountain, originally located on O’Connell Street but now residing in Croppies Memorial Park.

The “Wind Sail Sculpture” is a kinetic work, designed to move with the wind. However, by 2009, the ravages of time and weather had taken their toll, leaving the sculpture immobile and rusted. Thanks to the efforts of local artist Anne McGill, who spearheaded a restoration project, the sculpture has been returned to its former glory. It now stands as a testament to both O’Doherty’s artistic vision and the community’s dedication to preserving public art.

MAOI SCULPTURE IN CLONTARF – REPLICA OF ONE OF THE EASTER ISLAND STATUES

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2017 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION BY WILLIAM MURPHY

The “MAOI” sculpture in Clontarf is a replica of one of the iconic Moai statues found on Easter Island, a Chilean territory in the Pacific Ocean. It was presented to the City of Dublin by the Government of Chile in November 2004 as a symbol of friendship and cultural exchange between the two nations.

Meaning and Significance

Moai: The Moai are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island between the 13th and 16th centuries. They represent ancestors and deities and were believed to possess spiritual power.
Symbolism: The gift of the Maoi to Dublin signifies a connection between two geographically distant cultures with a shared appreciation for heritage and artistry. It also serves as a reminder of Chile’s Polynesian heritage and its unique cultural identity.

Cultural Exchange: The presentation of the sculpture fostered cultural exchange and understanding between Ireland and Chile, promoting awareness of each other’s history and traditions.
The Sculpture

Replica: The Clontarf Maoi is a faithful replica of an original Easter Island head, carved from volcanic stone sourced from the island itself.
Artist: It was sculpted by Chilean artist Alejandro Pakarati, a member of the Rapa Nui community, ensuring authenticity in its creation.
Location: The sculpture is prominently positioned on the promenade at Clontarf, near Vernon Avenue, making it a recognisable landmark in the area.

https://streetphotos.gallery/Excellent_Picture_This_2017/TheMaoiSculptureInClontarf/index.html

THE BASTARD SON OF SISYPHUS A SCULPTURE BY ORLA DE BRI

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THE INFOMATIQUE 2017 LEGACY PHOTO COLLECTION

Because of intrusive street furniture and as I had to shoot into the sun this was much more difficult to photograph than I had expected.

This striking sculpture, “The Bastard Son of Sisyphus”, by Orla de Brí, is located in Park West, Dublin. It offers a contemporary interpretation of the Greek myth of Sisyphus, condemned to eternally push a boulder uphill only to watch it roll back down. De Brí’s work captures the futility of Sisyphus’s task, reflecting the often- Sisyphean nature of modern life.

The sculpture features an 8ft high bronze figure, backed by imposing limestone megaliths, standing above a stepped waterfall. He contemplates a 5ft bronze sphere below, symbolising the burden we continually strive to overcome.

Unveiled on 21st October 1999, at the Park West launch day, the sculpture is unfortunately somewhat marred by its surroundings. Intrusive street furniture and the presence of high-tension transmission pylons detract from the artwork’s impact. Photographing the piece also proved challenging due to the position of the sun, which created difficult lighting conditions.

Further Information:

To learn more about the artist and her work, please visit www.orladebri.ie.

Photographing into the Sun: Challenges and Solutions

Photographing a subject when the sun is directly behind it presents several challenges:

Silhouettes: The subject is often rendered as a dark silhouette against a bright background.
Lens Flare: Light can scatter within the lens, creating unwanted artefacts and reducing contrast.
Dynamic Range: The difference in brightness between the subject and the background can exceed the camera’s capacity to capture detail in both.
Possible Solutions:

Change Position: If possible, reposition yourself to avoid shooting directly into the sun.
Use a Lens Hood: This can help to block some of the extraneous light causing lens flare.
Filters: Graduated neutral density filters or polarising filters can help to balance the exposure.
Exposure Compensation: Dial in positive exposure compensation to brighten the subject.
Shoot in RAW format: This allows for greater flexibility in post-processing to recover detail in highlights and shadows.

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