Stunning mural unveiled celebrating Brazil Independence and the diversity of Dublin City

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy and the Brazilian Ambassador to Ireland, Marcel Fortuna Biato today officially unveiled a stunning mural on Ormond Quay celebrating Brazilian Independence and the diversity of Dublin city. 

The project is the initiative of the Association of Brazilian Families in Ireland (AMBI) together with the Brazilian Embassy, Dublin City Council and Monteco Holdings Ltd and the mural is a collaboration between Brazilian Artist Neto and Irish Artist Asbestos. 

Lord Mayor Caroline Conroy said, ‘I am delighted today to unveil this beautiful piece of artwork by Neto and Asbestos. It is a joyful celebration of Brazil’s bicentenary of Independence and the diversity of Dublin City. This fantastic new art installation will enhance the quays and will be enjoyed by both visitors and workers to the city centre. I would like to congratulate all involved who collaborated on this exciting arts project.” 

Ambassador Biato said, “It is my great pleasure to take part in the launching of this magnificent open-air painting. I congratulate all those responsible for making possible this fitting celebration of the rich and vibrant bonds of friendship and family that unite the Irish and Brazilian peoples. In showcasing the 200th anniversary of Brazil’s independence, the artists responsible, Neto and Asbestos, also pay tribute to the ideals of freedom and self-determination that have always guided our nations. I am confident this mural will inspire all those who have a chance to see it, as well as reaffirm Dublin’s deserved standing as a beacon of diversity and goodwill.” 

AMBI is a non-profit community organization, founded in 2010, to collaborate in the integration between Brazil and Ireland and promote Brazilian culture and Portuguese as a heritage language. We aim to embrace our migrant background, promote identity and belonging, support the Brazilian nationals living in Ireland, and strengthen the relationship between Ireland and Brazil. 

The idea was to create art that could represent the celebration of 200 years of Brazilian independence and also would be a “gift” from the Brazilian community to Dublin. Then the idea of a collaborative mural between a Brazilian and Irish artist resulted in this stunning mural. 

This collaborative project sees Neto Vettorello and Asbestos creating a mural called ‘Do Not Remove/Não Remova’. The mural was inspired by an inscription, ‘Do Not Remove’, scribbled on the wall of the boarded up building on the site on Ormond Quay. 

The mural was made possible by the Brazilian Embassy in conjunction with Monteco Holdings Ltd, the owner of the old Ormond Hotel Site. Members of the public are invited to pop along and see the artists’ imagination come to life!

***Please find photo attached - From left: Ana Morales, AMBI, Neto Vettorello, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, Asbestos, Brazilian Ambassador to Ireland, Marcel Fortuna Biato. Additional photos available from Damien Eagers Photography*** 

ENDS

Notes to the Editor 

From the Artists

The work asks the public to look back at their history in Ireland and Brazil and to cherish and treasure the culture and heritage we have. In Ireland we are at risk of removing the cultural heart of our communities, we need to balance progress with a respect for the past. Asbestos is asking us to consider what’s worth keeping and how we maintain a strong community around us. Neto Vettorello looks back at this history of Brazil and its founding, and how the struggle in Brazil is between progress and the destruction of both culture and nature. While celebrating 200 years of independence, we can change our vision so women are no longer removed from history and rethink a more egalitarian society. 

About the Artists

Neto

Neto Vettorello is a Brazilian multidisciplinary artist based in Dublin, the city that inspires him to reflect on urban, playful, introspective, and spiritual themes. He produces his work thinking about the relationships between cities, their habitats, and their connection with the mystical world. For him, “art is the way I express what I feel”, using different techniques such as graffiti, painting, graphic design, and audio-visual techniques. 

https://www.netovettorello.com/  @netovettorello 

Asbestos

Asbestos is an Irish artist who’s been creating work on the street and in a variety of media since 2003. In his portrait series he creates work that consists of two versions of his persona, one real one fictional, combining photorealism and abstract naive strokes. In this work, Asbestos strive to provoke a reaction, but one that creates a dialogue between him and the audience. He strives to delve deeper into what it means to have an outer and inner self and how the masks he and everyone wears create multiple personas. 

https://www.artofasbestos.com  @artofasbestos