Waterford Walls 2018

Waterford Walls

Once again the streets of Waterford became an art gallery as the Waterford Walls festival brought in another 48 works that transformed the look of the city. I had a few days to catch a glimpse of some artists, and enjoyed the completed work when I returned from my trip.

Youri Cansell, aka Mantra (France), is famous for his nature-themed works, but for this festival he painted an image of street artist. What a thoughtful gift! I hope it has a long life – it is already loved here. You see a gentleman in my picture enjoy mimicking the painted artist. The work is sponsored by Ambassador of France in Ireland.

Here are some links to my previous Waterford Walls posts : 2015, 2016, 2017. Ah, and some more 🙂 Now I will take you around our ‘art gallery’.

Kevin Bohan  is a full time artist and illustrator based in Dublin ( Kevin Bohan Arts). If you open my 2017 link, there is a picture of his mural, The Love Hearts.

This time, Kevin is painting a Rainbow Serpent, freehand. He says the wall will guide him.

Kevin advises me to come again Sunday and have my hand painted as part of the mural. He explains that the mural is a collaboration project that will include the artworks of two national school students.

I show up Sunday ( wouldn’t miss the chance) and lovely Sarah assists me with the hand painting.

The mural is sponsored by the Australian Embassy in Dublin ( Kevin used the aboriginal painting techniques in this work).

Finished work.

Several mural artists share Stephen street, it is why I like to come here. Toronto/Dubai based artist Fathima Mohiuddin, aka Fats Patrol, is working next to Kevin.

All geared up.

Fats is painting this bold and fearless owl for a reason. It represents female energy and connection between the nature and human spirit. Fats is currently pursuing a diploma in Art Therapy in Toronto.

The finished work.

Irish artist Lisa Murphy.

Shuk, graffiti artist from Ireland. Harsh midday shadows added the silhouette at the bottom of the painting 🙂

RASK (Ireland) and Bo Pedersen (Denmark) teamwork.

While I was hanging around taking pictures, Bo was working away and minding his own business.  A disputatious elderly man approached him and started to challenge his knowledge of art and purpose of graffiti. When (quite arrogantly) asked about his education, Bo replied that he actually has a degree in Arts. The man was stunned. “Then you are more educated than I” he exclaimed in disbelief, and left visibly deflated. Graffiti rocks 🙂

The finished wall.

Louise McKenna (Ireland).

Louis Masai is a painter, sculptor, illustrator and street artist based in London. He is best known for his vivid murals of patchwork animals.

The finished work.

Graciela Goncalves Da Silva, aka Animalitoland, Argentina. She is a self taught illustrator and graphic designer, second time painting at the Waterford Walls.

Garreth Joyce, Graphic artist based in Dublin.

Louis Boirdon and Edouard Egea, aka MonkeyBird (France), a street team sharing their self-created mythology (the monkey stands for realism, the bird for dreams). The Castle on the Cliff – a fascinating stencil creation is the duo’s gift to Waterford.

Wandering around the town I came across that guy who was painting over a still presentable mural, the work of the Mexican artist KINMX. He said the wall had been allocated for a new Joe Caslin’s work. I wondered if we were suddenly short of the old walls, but fair enough, the murals don’t live forever, and a quality work of a renowned artist is always a bonus. However, I started to worry about the Birdo’s work in the same location. And I was right to worry. Birdo’s work is no more. No comments.

Joe Caslin is using his murals for social change. I don’t know if you are familiar with his nearly identical mural I couldn’t say No. 

The Neon Waves mural by Dan Kitchener, aka DANK, is also painted over the last year’s work by DMC. It looks amazing. People still stop and stare at the neon beauty – rainy Shinjuku, Tokyo.

Another stunner is Eira and the White Tiger by Sonny, British-born artist from South Africa. We already have his Neon Tiger painted last year.

The Stop sign is real!

A few more works in my reach. Spaceship by Shane Sutton Art.

Waterford Walls

Mr Cenz, based in London. New at Waterford Walls.

Lost Optics (Romania).

Our tour ends at the Waterford Walls HQ where UK based artist Peachzz is trying to set up an Octopus Lair.

The following day.

The other end of the lair. Looks fascinating.

Waterford Walls

The HQ building and the wall by Curtis Hylton. Thank you for visiting Waterford Walls festival!

Well, it was a huge post, hope you were not too tired walking with me. If you still have energy left after our excursion, please visit and enjoy Resa McConaghy’s blog Graffiti Lux and Murals

 

 Have a wonderful weekend!

128 comments

    1. Thank you! After four years and some 50-60 walls I really see a difference. It is a great way to cover our imperfections 🙂 Plus everyone is happy and the artists are getting credits for their creativity.

  2. I would love to walk around and see these fantastic art works. I really like every one of them. The artists are so talented. I noticed there is a cute cat in one of the mural too.

    It is as if I was walking there with this post.

    1. Thank you so much! Isn’t it wonderful that so many talented people share their work for free. It has been four years since the city started to offer the walls for painting, and i think it was the best idea ever.

  5. ‘The monkey stands for realism, the bird for dreams’ really has to be the quote of the year. As ever, Inese, your work provides food for thought born of the excellence of your subject matter and own instinctive flair. Best Regards, Mike

    1. Thank you Mike! It is what the guys themselves say about their collaboration 🙂 I too love this idea of the monkey and the bird. Dreaming and wisdom are both part of human nature, and therefore they shouldn’t be in conflict. The dreamers and the rationalists create a balance, not a conflict. We can all live in peace and enrich each other. Yet, the media is trying to make us hate each other for our differences.

  7. Wow… That is great and impressive art! Always loved street art. Thanks for this beautiful post.

    1. Thank you Herman! I have loved street art since I was very young. Literally worshiped Diego Rivera 🙂 Glad this kind of art is getting popular (and legal) here.

  10. It’s great to wake up and immediately home in on art for art’s sake, both your photos and the painters. Brilliant ~ George

    1. Thank you! And it is only a half of the walls painted this year. There are much more. Every year we are getting some 40 new works, and most of them stay. This used to be quite a grey city before 🙂

  13. Ah, the walls, so stunning as they are every year. 🙂 The owl has got to be my favorite, hands down. Fats’ shaping of the feathers and shading within them just NAILS it. 🙂 xxxxxx

    1. Thank you! Yes, the owl is a strong one. When you see Fats’ other beautiful owls, and then you see this one, with its wings spread wide and looking bold and confident, you know that something has changed in the life of the artists. There is always a story xxxxxxxxx

    1. Thank you Bruce! Grateful for the artists and their sponsors. This festival is very young and imperfect, but we have plenty of walls to offer, and there are amazing talents around the world to make them special 🙂

  15. The post is a sumptuous feast for the soul. Breathtaking, fascinating, thought-provoking and dream-inducing, the murals occupy a zone between reality and surrealism, invoking a gamut of emotions in the watcher. Your post transcended me to the very streets and walls.

    1. Thank you! I too love the Street Artist, but I cannot tell you who is the model – MANTRA finished his work and left before the festival had started. I can only tell it is not a self portrait 🙂

  18. Beautiful post. I love the murals and it is hard to pick a favorite as they are all excellent. The owl caught my eye and the woman in the white dress with the writing I said no is powerful. Thank you again for another interesting tour.

    1. Thank you! I love the story of this owl. Fats had her own struggles, and it took her four years to learn to believe she can fly above her challenges. She has painted owls before but this one is the first painted straight on.

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