All posts tagged: Cork Ireland

Asbestos Paints a Roof Over His Head in Cork, Ireland

Asbestos Paints a Roof Over His Head in Cork, Ireland

Here in Cork, as in an increasing portion of the western world, housing is gradually turning into a privilege, instead of a right. For the Ardu Street Art Festival in this city of 190,000, the second largest in Ireland, street artist Asbestos posed himself with a box on his head to symbolize our need for a roof.

Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Asbestos)

“As a country we are currently in an existential crisis over housing,” he tells us. “There’s a fear and uncertainly about finding a safe space, and the system seems to be stacked in favor of the landlords.”

A short roster of artists are here this year for the festival – and hometown talent Conor Harrington is currently working on his first mural for the city. The other participants this year include Friz and Shane O’Malley. Of course, being in your hometown doesn’t mean much if you don’t actually have a home.

Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Dave O’Sullivan)

“Home isn’t simply about where you were born, it’s where you feel you belong, where you feel safe, where you’re welcomed, where you can come back to and feel accepted, loved and part of a community,” says Asbestos as he discusses rents and mortgages. He tells us that it took over a week to paint this new mural, and during that time he had many conversations with people on the street who feel the economic anxiety and insecurity that is pushing more people closer to the door – here and elsewhere.

“It was wonderful to speak to so many curious Corkonians about the mural. The support has been amazing from the public and my friends and family here, Cork definitely felt like my home for a week.”

Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Dave O’Sullivan)
Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Shane O’Driscoll)
Asbestos. Ardu Street Art Festival 2021. Cork, Ireland. (photo © Asbestos)
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Asbestos is on High Alert With a Masked Man in Cork.

Asbestos is on High Alert With a Masked Man in Cork.

Sometimes the eyes tell you a lot. In the case of masked people, its all you can rely on aside from posture and body language.  Here in Cork, Ireland, the artist who calls himself Asbestos keeps the faces hidden and the eyes alert – very alert.

Asbestos in Cork, Ireland for Cork Graffiti Jam. (photo © Asbestos)

“The piece is another in a series of mask murals I’m doing,” he tells us. “This mask has drawings on it by my childhood subconscious, an imaginary version of myself called Left Hand. He exists as an innocent and naive version of myself, who doodles thoughts of the past and snippets of the life he sees through my eyes.”

Asbestos in Cork, Ireland for Cork Graffiti Jam. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos in Cork, Ireland for Cork Graffiti Jam. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos in Cork, Ireland for Cork Graffiti Jam. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos in Cork, Ireland for Cork Graffiti Jam. (photo © Asbestos)
Asbestos in Cork, Ireland for Cork Graffiti Jam. (photo © Asbestos)

The mural was part of this years Cork Graffiti Jam was organized by @mistertrixy. Asbestos would like to thank him for the chance to paint this and the wonderful hospitality.

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