“Maser’s work is not unusual for Project; rather it exemplifies Project’s artistic programming through its 52 year history…. We believe all art is political, even work that reflects the status quo and is therefore misconstrued as being ‘neutral’. We draw a distinct line between supporting artists who make work that is highly political and engaging in political activism.” (Project Arts Centre)

In 2016, Dublin-born street and contemporary artist Maser was commissioned by The Hunreal Issues to paint a ‘Repeal the 8th’ mural on the side of the Project Arts Centre. You know the mural I’m talking about, even if you didn’t manage to make it down to East Essex Street before it ran afoul of the anti-choice brigade and Dublin City Council threw the book at them on the pretext of ‘planning permission’ and insisted it be removed after only two weeks.

Planning permission, according to Subset (a Dublin-based street art collective who have also run afoul of the no-fun-niks at City Council), runs to the princely sub of €60 per square metre if the bureaucrat du jour counts it as advertising — or an unknown cost if it is termed ‘miscellaneous,’ at the discretion of the Council. Apparently painting a mural, even with the permission of the building owner, can be nitpicked just as strongly as tacking up a new conservatory. Can be — isn’t always, but can be. There seems to be disagreement and confusion as to exactly what’s allowed where and what isn’t, but, well — if someone goes looking for a rule-book to throw, they’ll find it.

On April 9th, 2018, pro-choicers were delighted by the return of Maser’s mural to its original spot. Unlike the blight of graphic imagery put up by anti-choice activists, this was real art with cultural merit. Maser is a national treasure and Kind of a Big Deal internationally for his work. He’s had multiple international projects including Palais de Tokyo, the Sydney Festival and Hyde Park. He’s also put up many works in Dublin besides the Repeal mural, including an installation at Smithfield for the Bram Stoker Festival and ‘They Are Us,’ a collaboration with Damien Dempsey in 2010 that raised money for the homeless. One can only imagine the response to trying to humanise the homeless in the current political climate.

The purpose of the Project Arts Centre, according to chairperson Fiona Slevin, is to be “Ireland’s leading centre for the presentation and development of contemporary art, and to work with artists across all art forms to make and present extraordinary works that inspire and provoke. The artwork by Maser fits precisely with this remit.” The HunReal Issues, Project Arts Centre, and Maser have been biding their time to get the mural back up, and the timing was no coincidence. Cian O’Brien, Artistic Director, pointed out, “According to the Planning & Development Regulations 2001, Schedule 2, Part 2, Exempted Developments, Class 14, the mural will not be subject to planning permission in the context of a Referendum.” When the date of the referendum was announced, plans began to replace the mural, even with the understanding that the mural would have had to be removed by June 1st to remain within the law.

Nevertheless, Dublin’s most controversial piece of street art is in the crosshairs once again. Two weeks seems to be the window for this painting: on Monday 23rd at 11am, the mural will once again be painted over. The rule book this time isn’t from Dublin Council, it’s from the Charities Regulator:

The Charities Regulator has informed Project Arts Centre that the display of Maser’s ‘Repeal the 8th’ artwork is ‘political activity’ and that we are therefore in breach of the Charities Act 2009 and not in line with our ‘charitable purpose’. Should the artwork not be removed, we risk losing our charitable status. Project Arts Centre respects the authority of the Charities Regulator and will comply with their order to remove Maser’s artwork. [*]

In response, the HunReal Issues tweeted: “We played by all the rules but when ppl put their minds to finding more rules, they’ll always find something.”

For all the whiny drivel lately published about how ‘unfashionable’ it is to be ‘pro-life’, it would seem that the conservative, neoliberal gentrification of the ‘dirty old town’ continues apace. Dublin is a city that wears the scars of its politics everywhere, from the bulletholes that still remain on the statues on O’Connell Street to the painted face of Bobby Sands outside The Auld Triangle pub. When anti-choicers are flashing graphic and dubiously-sourced imagery to traumatise passersby, it’s an iconic piece of political art that is being censored? Cop on.

The referendum to repeal the 8th amendment will take place on 25 May. Make sure you’re registered to vote.