‘ART, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder’
That adage certainly holds true in the case of murals painted near King John’s Castle last week that have caused a conflict of opinion amongst locals.
The murals, commissioned by Limerick City Council, as part of the ‘Make a Move’ festival have been described as ‘totally inappropriate’ by Convent Street resident Charlie McLean (74). “There like something out of a horror comic. The location next to the medieval castle is out-of-place. They wouldn’t put something like that near Buntratty.
“If these murals are modern art, then I’m Picasso,” said Mr McLean who has lived in the area all his life.
However, Limerick City Councillor and Thomondgate resident Tom Shortt said the murals transform a rough wall on a derelict site into contemporary urban art.
“The murals are painted to a high standard. They can be painted over by other artists in years to come and are not permanent, unlike some of the embarrassingly poor quality bronze public sculptures we are stuck with erected in the city in recent years.
“I believe that the murals create an appropriate backdrop for City of Culture 2014. This kind of art is an ever-increasing trend and part of an urban landscape,” he said.
The murals were painted by Australian born, Glasgow based artist, Smug, who is regarded as one of the most accomplished street artists in the world.
Meanwhile, Limerick Arts Office has announced details of the country’s first subsidised living space scheme for artists. An open call has been made to recognised cultural practitioners, including contemporary visual artists, performers, musicians and writers, to apply for the use of six newly-refurbished residential apartments at John’s Square.
The Square reopened to the public earlier this year following a €1.5 million redevelopment by Limerick City Council and, according to the local authority, it can now be considered Limerick’s Living Cultural Quarter.
For more information see www.limerickcity.ie.
