Dublin City Council are threatening to remove Joe Caslin’s evocative mural based on the upcoming Marriage Equality referendum.
A petition has been started at Change.org to prevent the council from removing the powerful image of two men embracing, which was put in place 13 days ago and has received widespread praise from those seeking a Yes vote in the upcoming Marriage Equality referendum.
Joe Caslin, the artist who installed the mural overlooking South Great George’s Street in the capital, told JOE that the council wrote to him last week to say that the artwork could be in breach of planning law.
“Sent me a warning letter saying it may or may not be in breach of planning law. They’re currently having a discussion over it,” said Joe, who is keen to see his work remain in place at least until the vote on May 22nd.
Artist Joe Caslin (right)
“They’re making the decision as to whether it is a legal installation or an illegal installation.”
Joe says that the response to the mural has been hugely positive.
“Some of the emails I’m getting are incredibly powerful. People are walking by it to get an energy from it. Imagine being a young gay man and you see it, and you get a sense of really fitting in. It’s taken a life of its own and people have really been connecting with it.”
For those of you interested in owning what has already become an iconic image of modern Ireland, you can order a copy of the print here.
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