Merrion Square 'at capacity' as Dublin artwork moves 'beyond the canals'
With Merrion Square “at capacity” for sculptures, Dublin City Council are endeavouring to move beyond the canals and bring artwork to the often underrepresented areas across the city.
This was revealed at yesterday’s ‘ Art in Parks ’ presentation, where representatives at the Community, Gaeilge, Sport, Arts & Culture SPC learned how the varied art found around the capital is commissioned in the first place. Senior Executive Landscape Architect Kieran O'Neill explained that there are around 60 artworks spread across 40 locations in the city.
“The majority are concentrated within the Inner City area between the canals, in particular Merrion Square, where we have 11 works of art,” he said. Mr O’Neill explained that a new council policy is to broaden their artwork areas and provide greater access to art for those who don’t live in the city centre.
Councillors welcomed this policy as positive development, with People Before Profit Cllr Conor Reddy stating it’s great to see artist Sara Cunningham-Bell’s sculpture ‘The Bridge: Fiacha Dhubha Fhionglaise ar Foluain’ at Kildonan Park in Finglas . However, he stressed the need for more cultural infrastructure in the North West and North Central Areas, which have been traditionally underrepresented.
Retired Public Art Manager Ruairi O Cuiv explained that The Bridge is a work packed with references to local issues and local people from the Finglas area. It remembers Eliza Wollstonecraft Bishop, an advocate of women’s education in the early 1800s, and Sophie Pierce-Heath, a celebrated aviatrix of the 1920s who flew her plane ‘The Silver Lining’ at Kildonan Aerodrome, Ireland’s first commercial airport.
Sinn Fein Cllr Michael Mac Donncha commended the updated Arts in Parks brochure, which acts as a guide to the various works across the city. He said he was struck by how little artwork there currently is in St. Anne’s Park between Raheny and Clontarf and that this is a location that could be considered for future commissions.
Mr O’Neill agreed that St. Anne’s Park would be a prime location for further artworks and it is an area they will be considering in the future. He stressed that there are so many parks across urban Dublin that could house sculptures and artworks and that it is "something that will happen throughout the years.” “It won’t be immediate, but that stock of sculpture will build up into the future,” he said.
One way artworks get commission around the city is through stipulations in planning agreements, with Mr O Cuiv explaining that private developers are often asked to support the installation of permanent structures in the locality. This was the case for ‘Screen for EG’ by Eilis O’Connell, who is a Scottish contemporary artist.
Located at Hamilton Gardens in Cabra, Screen for EG saw the developer work with a private curator to acquire the piece. EG refers to the Irish interior designer Eileen Gray, whose famous Villa E-1027 on the French Riviera it was first displayed at.
The most recent sculpture launched by Dublin City Council is ‘The Mocking Shadow of Doubt’ by Andy Fitz. Boasting a Victorian-era design with shamrock detailing, this piece recreates an iconic Dublin lamppost and was inspired by the Greek and Irish author Lafcadio Hearn, who was known for his ghost stories.
The familiar lamppost is remade with a slight twist; the neck bends inward to gaze on itself. Designed to look eerily out of place at its location on Dartmouth Square, the commission was initiated by the Upper Leeson Street Area Residents Association (ULSARA), with funding from former Lord Mayor Carmencita Hederman, and Dublin City Council.
The proliferation of art across the city represents a great educational opportunity for children and the community according to Labour Party Cllr Fiona Connolly. She suggested inviting local schools to interact with the different artworks as a means of promoting the “acceptance and understanding of art.”
Social Democrats Cllr Cat O’Driscoll also highlighted the importance of educating people about just how much artwork there is across Dublin parks. She suggested a map found in the Arts in Parks brochure be made available online and linked with programmes such as the Culture Near You online map.
Cllr Vincent Jackson asked about artworks that have previously been exhibited across the city and since taken down and wondered if there is a catalogue of works in storage. However, Mr O Cuiv revealed whenever he’s asked this question there’s a very easy answer because “there are simply none.”
“We’re proud of any artwork we have and the council tries to maintain it as well as possible, so there are no works in storage,” he said.
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