Abercorn Road mural unveiled

Dublin based American artist, Jim Ricks, pictured beside his new mural on the Abercorn Road.

The mural was designed and painted by Dublin based American conceptual artist, Jim Ricks.

Jim, who has been living in Ireland for more than 10 years, is also an artist in residence at the FabLab in the Nerve Centre.

“Context is very important to my work,” said Jim.

“I was conscious of all of the other murals in Derry when I was putting this one together - I suppose you could say I was mindful of the politics of Northern Ireland when designing the mural - I wanted it to be something different,” he said.

Jim said the reaction he got from people passing by was positive and one person said the mural reminded them of the front cover of the Good Friday Agreement.

The new mural is part of a wider project involving FabLabs in Derry, Madrid and Limerick.

A major touring European Future Artist-Maker Exhibition is scheduled for late 2016/early 2017.

Future Artist-Maker Labs is led by the Nerve Centre, and funded by Creative Europe, the former Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Acorn Fund.

David Lewis, project leader at the Nerve Centre said he was “delighted” to be involved in such an initiative.

“We are delighted to be working with University of Limerick and Ultra-Lab, Madrid, on this unique Creative Europe funded project. Future Artist-Maker Labs will foster international networking between three former Cities of Culture and project participants, sharing expertise and good practice in art-making and fabrication.

“As FabLabs allow users to literally design and create anything, the potential for artists and creative players to use digital fabrication technologies in their artistic practice is huge and an emerging area of practice. This is their opportunity to work and showcase on an international level,” added.