an Gorta Mór (The Great Famine)

The Great Famine (an Gorta Mór) or the Great Hunger (1845 – 1852) began as a natural catastrophe of extraordinary magnitude, but its effects on Ireland were severely worsened by the actions and inactions of the ruling British government. Ultimately, the root cause of the famine was perceived to be British policy, which reduced the amount of land available for feeding the Irish, and therefore stimulated the demand for political autonomy. This period of mass starvation and disease resulted in the death of over a million men, women and children with another two million emigrating.  It is acknowledged that the Irish famine was proportionally more destructive than most of the famines of modern times, killing nearly one-eighth of the entire population.

The introduction of the potato in the second half of the 16th century heavily influenced Ireland's cuisine thereafter and its importance as an Irish staple is still evident today. Chips seemed to be served with every meal and if not, there is likely to be potato in some form or another. However in 1846 and successive years, blight destroyed the potato crop that had provided approximately 60 per cent of the nation's food needs.  The fact that only four types of potato were brought from the Americas contributed to the famine, because, a lack of genetic diversity exasperated the situation resulted in potentially greater devastating consequences from the blight. 

A walk along the Customs House Quay passes by a series of gaunt and expressive statues that represent the starving and dying population of The Great Famine (1845 – 1848).  The statues were designed and crafted by Dublin sculptor Rowan Gillespie (1997) and are simply entitled “Famine”. This evocative piece of art captures the very essence of the suffering during the Famine. This series of sculptures are executed superbly with exquisite detail captured on their faces depicting their anguish in the near lifeless expressions; that is both somber and haunting. The sunken, hopeless faces tell it all; starving, pleading, dying. It is a simple monument with an aura that has the power to stop you in your tracks, is thought provoking, well positioned and overall a beautiful series that is well worth the walk along the Customs House Quay. It was Rowan Gillespie's intention, to compliment his famine sculpture in Dublin, with a sculpture of a group of figures arriving on the other side of the Atlantic. In 2007, a second series of famine sculptures was unveiled on the quayside in Toronto's Ireland Park commemorating the arrival of these refugees in Canada.  These statues were so beautiful I thought them a fitting conclusion to my series of Dublin posts.  A visit to Toronto's Ireland Park is a must in my future.

The Medium is the Message

Richmond Street Art

Art is about expression and that expression maybe beautiful, complex, simple, crude, ugly, selfish, or political, but, ultimately it is about expression. The term street art conjures up images of graffiti with close associations to gang culture, basically used to vandalize public property and mark a gang’s territory. The current reality is that street art has evolved past graffiti writing into a complex interdisciplinary form of artistic expression that may include graffiti, stencils, prints and murals, large-scale paintings and projects of artistic collaboration that has ultimately woven their way into the core of contemporary art. Street art offers young artists a medium that allows for relevant and creative means to express themselves; that is both unhampered by rules and boundaries imposed by academic institution while allowing them to employ artistic license and freedom thereby creating unique style and form. 

Traffic Signal Control Box Art

On a recent visit to Dublin, I had the pleasure of doing a private tour with a professional photographer. These types of tours allow one to enjoy a locale with a tour tailored to their particular interest from a photographer’s point of view (a definite must for a photography enthusiast).  So when we started the tour with street art, the first thought that popped into my head was “really”! Then I remember an early morning tour of Philadelphia, more years ago that I care to admit to, that showcased some of that city’s street art (some call it graffiti art but it was and is so much more). 

View of John's Lane Church
from Tivoli Theatre Car Park, St. Francis Street

Dublin, not unlike other cities, has a street art scene that has developed from a collaborative effort between businesses, arts organizations and the City Council sponsoring and promoting artists. The type of street art you can find in Dublin ranges from whole buildings to shop shutters that only reveal their art when they're rolled down after closing time. This art form has allowed lovely but crumbling buildings and urban parking lots to be revived.  The photos included are from three areas; Richmond Street behind the Bernard Shaw pub, Liberty Lane and the Tivoli Theatre car park. The Bernard Shaw Pub has a large open area to the rear with walls that are free to paint over. A local art supply company provides the materials and this area has an appeal to both emerging artists as well as the more established ones. The Tivoli Theatre organizes an annual event to paint its large car park, with artists attending from all over the world. 

“The medium is the message”; the phrase coined by Marshall McLuhan considers that how a message is conveyed may provide more meaning than there is in the message itself.  Street art is an excellent example of the medium being the message as it practically defines the purpose of the art form.  The medium gives a context to street art that when removed, alters both the purpose and power of what it says and its intended audience.  So embrace the medium in the message while enjoying this unique art form or for that matter any medium and its message. 

Tiger by Dan Leo on St. Francis Street painted during All City Jam 2015 (One of my favourites)

The Morrigan, a Celtic Deity who could take the form of a wolf, cow, eel and crow
by Friz at Tivoli Theatre Car Park. (Another favourite)

Tivoli Theatre Parking Lot off St. Francis Street

Street Art from Liberty Lane

Liberty Lane Street Art

Tivoli Theatre Car Park Street Art

Liberty Lane Street Art

Art from near Bernard Shaw Pub on Richmond Street

Tivoli Theatre Car Park Street Art

Art on Richmond Street, Near the Bernard Shaw

Tivoli Theatre Car Park Street Art by James Earley

Irish Wolfhound, interspersed with iconic Dublin landmarks like the Spire, Ha’penny Bridge and
Guinness Storehouse by James Earley for Visit Dublin in City Quay.