A RENOWNED Irish graffiti artist has brought a bold dash of colour to Limerick National City of Culture after transforming a derelict petrol station on Parnell Street into an eye-catching piece of pop art.
Dublin-based Maser, who prefers to keep his true identity secret, was commissioned to give the site a much-needed facelift as part of the Draw Out urban exhibitionists project — a collaboration between City Council and local youth worker Catherine O’Halloran.
According to Ms O’Halloran, the initiative uses contemporary street art to reinvent space.
“We seek out derelict sites within a prime location in the city and transform them into public works of art. Throughout the coming year we will see 20 more derelict sites reincarnated as artistic interpretations,” she revealed.
Over the last ten years, Maser has made an indelible mark on the international graffiti scene having his work splashed across buildings from New York to London, Copenhagen, Prague, Dublin and now Limerick. His urban art project in the city is titled ‘No.27, A nod to Ed Ruscha‘ — in homage to the prominent artist of the 1960s’ pop-art movement.
The derelict petrol station on Parnell Street had been considered by many as an eyesore and its vibrant new look has been very well received across the city.
Almost 300 litres of paint were used on the urban art project. Maser told the Limerick Post that everything had to be given a coat of white paint and two coats of colour, making it feel like “painting the petrol station three times”.
“I’m using paint as a tool to express what’s going on in my head, but I’m also aware there is an audience. I want to encourage that audience, especially the young and the disheartened. I communicate this through projects like this, large type-based work and my pattern paintings. I try to lead by example,” Maser explained.
“I hope to encourage and spread positivity, to look at art as an necessity in life; it creates our culture. We seem to get too caught up on profits and loss, winning and losing. Monitory gain seems to be the gauge for people’s success. You can be the most successful man with just pennies in your pocket. So long as my family and friends are happy and healthy, I’m painting and creating, I feel like a rich man,” he said.
