Across the capital, 500 traffic signal boxes have been transformed into pieces of public art
, small grey boxes quietly manage the flow of traffic. Vehicles, bikes, pedestrians and pesky e-scooters are beholden to their will. Though designed to blend in with their surroundings, in recent years these traffic light control boxes have also served a more enlightening purpose.
“It is important to make public art accessible,” says David Murtagh, the creative director and founder of the project. “Signal boxes are always located at junctions. That makes them perfect for artwork because you naturally have to stop.”. Some of these have been repainted over the years. The average lifespan can be anywhere from three years in the city centre , to about five years elsewhere.
He saw a similar project in 2006 while backpacking in Brisbane, Australia, and wanted to replicate its success. At first, he worked with artists in wrapping boxes around Temple Bar in 2008 , and after being made redundant from Diagio in 2014, he sought to revive the idea on a larger scale. Fifteen boxes were painted in 2015. The next summer they upped it to 75 pieces and have commissioned about 100 a year since.
“We’ve had a variety of artists, from 18 right up into their 70s or 80s,” the amateur artist and modelmaker says, proudly. “You have a full spectrum of college students right through to retirees. We’ve had doctors, construction workers, barbers, baristas, barristers, eye surgeons – you name it. It would be easier to list occupants that haven’t taken part. People say that, worldwide, street art projects are heavily male-dominated.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
There’s a place in Europe where rent prices haven't changed in 500 yearsRental prices seem to never stop going up so a place where the price of rent hasn’t changed for 500 years sounds like a fever dream, right?
Read more »
Gardai appeal for anyone who witnessed horror crash in Dublin to contact themThe collision, involving a pedestrian and a bus, happened at the junction of O’Connell Street and Abbey Street Lower shortly after midday on Wednesday.
Read more »
Dublin Airport looking at 'capacity restrictions for two years'A new planning application is to be submitted to Fingal County Council in a number of weeks
Read more »
Firefighters rescue six people from apartment building blaze in TallaghtDublin Fire Brigade were rushed to the blaze on Friday evening
Read more »
Application to increase Dublin Airport passenger cap to be lodged within weeksDAA chief says process likely to take two years and airlines may take extra capacity elsewhere in interim
Read more »