Waterford Walls

murals 199res

Waterford Walls is a visual Street Art project in Waterford City, Ireland. Irish and International street artists and talented school students transformed old spaces into extended art gallery. The first image is the work of Joe Caslin, a street artist and art teacher from Roscommon who is known for his project “Our Nation’s Sons” – large scale portraits of young men from disadvantaged social backgrounds.

In the image below, a man stopped to touch the surface of the portrait. I will tell you why.  Joe Caslin paintings are done on biodegradable paper,  and will come down within a few weeks.  We are lucky with the weather, and I hope the paintings will last another month.

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Another work of the same artist in Olaf Street. It is sad they won’t stay here too long.

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murals

I went around the city center to look for the other murals. First of all, I visited one of my favorite places in O’Connell Street and was pleased to find an interesting work.

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murals

After that I walked to Stephen Street. This is unused De La Salle Hall built in 1915. I love the new look of it’s facade. As it often happens in life, the facade is the only attractive part…

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murals

More murals in Stephen Street.

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murals

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murals

I like this mural  because the girl is holding a camera in her hands.

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It is where the rain started, and I rushed under the roof of a garage. From there I took a picture of a mural and a family with the matching umbrella.

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The rain didn’t last long and I walked to New Street to see the gardens and more murals.

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It was my last destination. There are about twenty murals, very colorful.

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This one is dedicated to Waterford Hospice.

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I stood there waiting for someone to come over and do something amazing, or at least something worth a picture, but there was no one in the gardens, so I just took a snap of the girl and her bees.

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Thank you for walking the streets with me. I know, it is not a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but think about the murals that won’t last longer that a couple of weeks. You have seen them!

This is sort of a similar exposition in 2008.

IneseMjPhotographyHave a wonderful weekend!

125 comments

  4. How amazing to see such brilliant art by just walking around Waterford. Such talented artiists! it’s a shame they’re only temporary because they’re so beautiful and colourful. I’ve never heard of murals being painted on biodegradable paper, and suppose it’s a good idea. New ones can so easily replace them, renewing interest int he town all over again. You’ve done a great job in photographing them before they do come down – or get ruined by the rain. Hope the rain holds off for you a little longer. 🙂

      1. I’m sure you will miss them – I know I would. They certainly give Waterford a ‘modern’ and cheery look! It just seems such a waste of time and effort on the artists’ behalf that they should last for such a short time. 🙂

  5. Inese, I love this post!!! What a great project — putting up artwork everywhere, making drab things beautiful. It does seem a shame for something so lovely to be temporary, though. Thanks for sharing this with us! Hugs.

    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Teagan! They say that this paper lasts up to 6 weeks. Two weeks have already gone. I will take pictures every three days to see the changes.
      Hugs!!!

  9. A fascinating project, Inese. For my Streets of London series I photographed a corner off Portabello Road, featuring a bare wall. Three days later, a new Banksy on the wall, prompted me to photograph it again. Later that day a perspex shield was placed over it.

  10. Wonderful street art Inese. I’m so glad you have a permanent record of it considering it’s short life. I’d hate to be such a great artist and see my work dissolving in the rain.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

    1. David, I too 🙂 Yet, it is only a big copy of a smaller work they still keep in their studio. It is only a matter of paint used for this work 🙂 They can do it again, it is not an improvisation, I guess 🙂 Thank you so much for reading and commenting! Hugs and best wishes!!!

  11. Waterford’s historic walls and towers are a defining feature of the southeastern city, but more recently the area has also acquired a more troubled name. A new summer festival aims to use one to help restore the other, and to do it through a medium once associated with vandalism: graffiti or, more properly, street art.

    1. Thank you for citing Gemma Tipton, Mihran! Yes, it was a great festival, but I missed it being on holidays. So I walked the route and took photographs since the works are still there, and no more photographers and crowds around 🙂 Thank you for your input! 🙂

  20. They are great works. I like murals or wall arts. There are only a couple of places here. The concept of degradable in few weeks are totally cool. New art works can replace the one very easily.

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