City painter inspired by drains project
City painter inspired by drains project
17 Mar 1995Artist’s life in the gutter
Corporation carpenter Frank Connolly, who shares the site with Michael, approves of his new artistic colleague. He says the ‘drainage work “is the kind of work the public might not always see.”
Two other artists are also doing projects with, the corporation and the museum. Liz McMahon is working in the local authority’s mapping office and drawing how the city has changed through the years. – And Aaron Fowler is doing a project on Bull Island.
KNEE deep in water in the city’s drains may not”. seem the most inspiring place in the world. But Dublin based artist Michael Lyons produces works of art there. The 36-year-old from Crumlin is drawing the drains and the people who work in them. “I basically spend the day on site working with Dublin Corporation drainage department and at night 1 work in a studio in the Irish Museum of Modern Art.”
It is part of a project with the local authority and the museum which are both funding it. And what might seem a damp, unappealing environment attracts the artist.
“The water is clear there are no rats and it’s not smelly. “The idea is that I would work for a year and then I would have an exhibition in the museum and in the Civic Offices.”
Michael is now working in Harold’s Cross where workers are extending the cover of the Poddle river which runs under the city. Corporation carpenter Frank Connolly, who shares the site with Michael, approves of his new artistic colleague. He says the drainage work “is the kind of work the public might not always see Two other artists are also doing projects with, the corporation and the museum. Liz McMahon is working in the local authority’s mapping office and drawing how the city has changed through the years. – And Aaron Fowler is doing a project on Bull Island.
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