A NEW project which will see six sculptures appear in Dublin is looking for help from the Irish public as to what to commemorate.
Sculpture Dublin, an ambitious project which aims to put sculpture at the heart of communities around Dublin City, was launched yesterday by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu.
€600,000 has been put aside for the project, which organisers say will "raise awareness of Dublin's sculptural heritage" by commissioning six new sculptures over the next 18 months in Ballyfermot, Terenure, Finglas, Smithfield Square and Raheny.
Another temporary sculpture will also be placed on the O'Connell Plinth outside City Hallon Dame Street, which one supported the statue of Daniel O'Connell which is now on display in City Hall.
Of the six commissions, two are participate and will require the input of the local community as to what the sculpture should represent, or which public figure it should commemorate.
The Molly Malone Statue is one of Dublin's most recognisable landmarks (Picture: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland)The project will also see a series of public talks, tours, workshops, online presentations and publications as well as a celebratory Sculpture Day, in an attempt to make sculpture "a part of everyday conversation".
Launching the project, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu, said "I am honoured to launch the initiative today.
"Sculpture is a reflection of people and place, of who we are, where we come from and where we are going. We’ve witnessed communities all over the world engage in sculpture in a renewed way in the last month.
"As well as rejecting symbols of past oppression, many have also celebrated sculpture that best reflects their traditions, culture and art. I want to congratulate Dublin City Council for initiating this ambitious programme of sculpture and I encourage the people of Dublin to embrace it.
"The new sculptures, and our existing sculptures city-wide, belong to you and are there for generations to come to enjoy and have pride in.”
The Famine Memorial monument in Dublin, another of the city's culturally important sculptures Picture: Photocall Ireland
The Sculpture project comes as Dublin's current sculptures and statues have suffered some vandalism; the city's Luke Kelly statues are regular targets for vandals, and last month the Tree of Life sculpture in St Anne's Park, Raheny-- where another sculpture is set to be created through the project-- was set alight.
But the project aims to get the community involved and take pride in the new sculptures, which may make people think about their importance and prevent vandalism.
City Arts Officer for Dublin City Council, Ray Yeates, urged the public to "get involved in the new commission where you can".
"Take part in the initiatives that will be organised to celebrate public sculpture. Public sculpture by its definition is for the people, and we want it to be of the people. Dublin City Council want a strong sense of ownership and pride in public sculpture to be a lasting legacy of this initiative.”
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See More: Dublin, Hazel Chu, Project, Sculpture, Statues
