Renowned street artist painting 500ft mural in Laois to hold Portlaoise solo exhibition
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Laois gallery exhibition with free goodie bags planned by established street artist Madderdoit
Portlaoise is fast becoming a tourist attraction for its mural art, including the latest monumental project by an internationally established street artist.
Madderdoit as he is known, has luckily for Laois moved from England to this county three years ago with his Castletown born wife.
The self-taught full time artist paints both street murals and canvases. He is a favourite for art collectors in America, Germany and the Netherlands, with his work on show in galleries, and an upcoming exhibition in the Dunamaise Arts Centre.
He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live while painting an epic 500 foot mural that encourages people to walk and cycle, on behalf of Portlaoise Tidy Towns and Laois County Council.
The mural runs along the walk/cycle path into the People’s Park from JFL Avenue.
“It follows the theme ‘a town in a garden’. I’ve done others murals like this already in Portlaoise, showing kids playing, with flowers, bees and butterflies. This one includes an active travel theme so I’ve painted a lady with a pram, people on bikes and unicycles.”
Madderdoit, which means ‘does it matter’ in Cornish slang, hand cuts his stencils, then uses spray paint to layer them up from black to bright colours in a graffiti style.
“Before coming to Ireland I lived in Brighton and Bristol and worked for charities doing street murals. I love living in Laois,” he said.
He is also teaching art in Laois, including an exhibition at Electric Picnic to take place for the third year.
“I do workshops with Youthwork Ireland Laois, I did one with Electric Youth, a week’s workshop followed by a mini gallery of kids paintings at EP.
“We are trying to get a mural based on Lewis Capaldi lyrics, and hopefully get him over to it.
“I work with Laois School of Music, and Laois Traveller Action Group, where we designed and painted a mural, that was a really nice experience. I’d only experienced Travellers from films, so it was fascinating to learn about their culture. We plan to do more,” he said.
He has also painted his murals in Lyster Square, at the Triogue Linear Park, and the southern link road, as well as another in Ballacolla also for tidy towns.
While he believes his art appeals to all ages, it is particularly loved by young people.
“I love working with youths. This is something I never grew up with. Kids find it fascinating to hold a spray can, to paint their first stencil. I’d have loved to have done that when I was younger, and I love to offer that now,” he said.
“I’m very lucky to be where I am now. I’m really grateful for all the opportunities I’m getting,” Madderdoit said.
The mural is one of many public artworks commissioned by Laois County Council around Portlaoise, with Marie Moylan currently painting another at Millview, and colourful dove statues landing on a wall off Main Street by artist Patrick Murphy.
An Exhibition of Organised Chaos by Madderdoit will be on display at the Dunamaise Arts Centre Portlaoise, from August 1 to 30. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, August 1 at 6pm, with a free goodie bag for the first 30 guests through the door.