Anseo, Anois, Arís | Deptford X

Pronounced “Un-shu, A-nish, A-reesh”, Irish for ‘Here, Now, Again’.

A new public mural considering how perception of place becomes suspended in time. Is it enough to be Here Now, and then Again? Is your streetscape getting hazy? Does your hometown forget you back?

This year when I went back to Dublin, I had this strange feeling. I thought first that the city had changed, or I’d changed and both are probably true. But what occurred to me, was whether I ever ‘remembered’ Dublin. Or had I created a version of the city that served me in homesickness and nostalgia? Had being an Irishwoman in the UK concocted a more utopian version of my former home (my future home) which I could hold protectively in moments of alienation I had experienced in London?

This year for Deptford X, I painted a mural, Anseo, Anois, Arís exploring how I felt about my new/current/temporary home in London. Receding past the letter forms into the wall behind, this 3D space becomes a portal, bringing forth neutral public space. What is it that makes a place, ‘home’. When you leave, how much of that home do you bring with you?

I had Covid when I started painting this mural and felt really ill by the end of the first day. I thought I was just out of practice. Instead of coming back Monday like my note suggested, I had to wait a week til I was released and could scurry back to finish it on the last day of Deptford X! I had so many comments from the public, saying they thought leaving the mural half finished with a sign saying ‘Back Monday’ (but which Monday??) was the whole concept! …. Kind of still fits

Technically the mural isn’t even finished yet! I have to stencil some writing on and pop up a plaque. I’ve got eyes on Spring 2023…

Back Monday

Design w. text

Huge thanks to Deptford X, especially Jess Slater and Jareh Das! Thanks too to Marcella restaurant for donating their wall. And to all my helpers and visitors, esp Ciarán and Ed.