Graffiti and Street Art in Dublin 8 by Heléna Filip

by Héléna Filip

A graffiti: bright colors, large outlines made on an illegal wall. Photo by Alice Tauleigne

Adrenaline, the smell of spray paint, paint on your hands, your sketch and a group of friends: graffiti.

Graffiti was born in Philadelphia in 1960 in the hands of a certain Cornbread. To attract the attention of a young woman, he put his signature all over the city. There were so many tags with his name that the press spotted him and challenged him to put his name in the most unlikely places in the city! This he did, and it sparked vocations all over Philadelphia, plunging the city into vandalism.

Eight years later, graffiti took hold on the silver trains of New York. This playground, which Philadelphia and New York were particularly fond of, became a source of rivalry between the two cities! This is where the graffiti culture exploded in New York.

It is only in the 2000s that street art shows its nose. As graffiti was seen as degrading and illegal, street art wished to make a good impression and created a place for itself in the art world. Street art is perceived differently by people as more “artistic” and closer to a painting on canvas. For the most part, it gives people confidence and they find it particularly beautiful.

For a graffiti artist, it is essential to be seen by everyone as much as possible. You must “destroy” the city. That’s how you get known - by being visible. You shouldn’t blame them, it’s a passion. Admittedly, graffiti is not appreciated by everyone, but it has a meaning. And if what you do or create has a meaning, it is important to consider it. What graffiti artists do makes

Their marking consists in the repetitive affixing of their pseudonyms, which can only be decoded by themselves, which reinforces the general disapproval.”

Here is an example of graffiti, letters sometimes misunderstood and made quickly. Photo by Alice Tauleigne

Translated from French. Source: Nouvel L’Obs “

sense among themselves because their graffiti or tags are intended for other graffiti artists and not the public.

Moreover, there is some mystery with the fact that not everyone can understand the meaning of the graffiti itself, but that is not why they should be blamed.

For a street artist, his work is intended for the public at large who will understand it. That is why he is well accepted in society, particularly here in Dublin. Dublin 8 is a treasure trove of street artists’ walls. There are a lot of them, with some being there for several months.

We talk about differences, but what do they have in common?

In three words: expression, independence and visibility.

Even if they are not aimed at the same people, graffiti and street art both want to express the thoughts of the artist who creates them. Creating your own piece and exhibiting it in the open are signs of freedom of expression and independence.

Whether it is legal or not, or in a public space, both want to be visible so that their art can be seen.

The fairy mushrooms that Kati talks about. Photo by Alice Tauleigne Wall where the interview was done, on Longwood Avenue in Dublin 8. Photo by Alice Tauleigne

We interviewed Kati and Stephen in Dublin 8 in front of a mural to get their opinion on it.

Kati is a German student at Griffith College, school in Dublin 8 for one semester.

Stephen : Mechanic in Dublin 8. Both found the wall very nice.

Do you think it’s graffiti or street art?

Kati doesn’t think it’s graffiti, because for her it’s more like letters or words. “Here, it’s like fairytales and mushrooms. For me, it’s street art.” Stefan also thinks it’s street art.

Is it legal for you?

Kati wonders, “Isn’t graffiti illegal and street art legal?” She thinks it’s legal, or at least she hopes so, because she thinks it’s pretty.

There are a lot of painted walls in Dublin. Do you like to see that here in Dublin 8 or are you indifferent to it?

For Kati there is no doubt that street art is good but in small doses. Stefan likes to go to work every day and see it all over the city. He likes to work next to this wall.

We can see that the people of Dublin 8 like to see colourful murals in their daily lives. Without hesitation, many of them confirmed that it was nice to see it because it gives the area attention and also because it is like an open-air museum that is free for all. Painting, but at what cost?

How much does graffiti removal cost? I have not gotten any answers from the organizations I have contacted, but according to thejournal. ie, between 2010 and 2014, cleaning up the graffiti cost €1.2 million, or about €300,000 each year. I have not been able to get any better sources at the moment.

A can of paint costs about €4. To make graffiti, you will need several cans of paint. About six to make a piece about one and a half metres long and one metre high. A starting budget of €16 at least, without counting the small cap which is put on the bombs.

For street art, the cost is even higher because it involves many different costs.

The more detail there is, the higher the price will be, and the choice of materials is also a price factor.

Street artists must therefore buy cans of paint in large amounts. Equipment such as brushes and a gondola are needed if the “canvas” is high up. A piece of street art costs between €75 and €1000 per square meter.

If you want a mural in your home, the site “bookanartist.co” offers the services of artists in several countries, with all styles and all prices included.

Photo by Alice Tauleigne