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Luas Art Competition 2010

Winner & Runners-up Biographies

1) Name: Peter O’Sullivan Position: Winner Entry Title: Work of heart

The Artist

Peter O’Sullivan aged 31 from south Dublin is an honours graduate of Dun Laoghaire

Inst. Of Art, Design and Technology with a diploma in animation production design and

a Degree in Design for Interactive Media. His work animation work has been shown on

RTE and throughout numerous European festivals. Currently working in retail, Peter

is studying the finer points of web development from home and is in the process of

setting up his own small business as a web designer/builder /Graphic Designer which

will come online in early 2011.

The Entry

The idea for "work of heart" comes pretty much directly from the slogan "luas takes you

to the heart of the city". This made me think of a capital city being very much like the

heart of a country and that in many respects a human heart is analogous to a city as a

living breathing entity, as a heart has its chambers a city has it's districts, and as a heart

has its arteries pumping blood around it so the city has its route-ways and transport

network transporting its own very "lifeblood" the people around to its various areas to

keep it alive and functioning. Once that idea kicked in I sketched out what can only be

described as an awful rough draught on a napkin! and then developed the idea,

Scanning in the picture and layering on each drawn element piece by piece, it was a lot

of fun to do even though at some points I approached headache inducing levels of

perspective and wanted to stop! But I’m glad I didn't .It nice to have done something

which reflects this city that ends up displayed throughout the city itself, as if the final

piece comes back to its inspiration, very circulatory! like a heart.

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2) Name: Alan Hatton Position: Runner-up Entry Title: I Heart Luas

The Artist

Alan is a 26 year old from Dublin who currently works for internet media giant

Yahoo! as a creative advertising advisor. Alan is also the editor-in-chief of the

company newsletter, Purple Front. Alan received a BA (Hons) in Journalism and

Editorial Design from the University of Wolverhampton in 2005. His aesthetic as

a designer focuses on typography and clear, bold colours, as evidenced in his

entry.

The Entry

Alan’s design was influenced by an exhibition of London Underground posters

from the early 20th century at the London Transport Museum. Their brash and

iridescent designs evoke his use of strong, crisp imagery.

By using a Venn diagram, he aims to illustrate the relationship between the city

and the Luas system. In the background are 612 Luas trams which intend to

suggest the Double Helix structure of DNA, which further emphasize the integral

role the Luas plays in the daily life of both Dubliners and visitors to the city.

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3) Name: John Hearne Position: Runner-up Entry Title: See the heart of the city

The Artist

I am a 3rd year Visual Communications student in D.I.T.

The Entry

My aim was to illustrate some of the interesting and free sights within the ‘heart of

the city’ that that a person can be brought to by the Luas. I am very attracted to

pattern, form and texture and these are the things that I used to explore the

locations/sites that are made accessible (linked up/connected) by the Luas.

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4) Name: John Pollier Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Luas taking you to the heart of the city

The Artist

John Pollier was born in 1957 in Morocco but grew up in France. From an early

age, illustrations, posters and particularly comics had a strong influence on him.

Despite his natural talent and strong interest in drawing, he never had the

occasion to persist in this field. However, since in Dublin he has been gradually

re-acquainted and strongly encouraged to pursue his prime desire as a

professional Illustrator. John is currently studying Illustration and Comics Design

while responding to international competitions. His work can be seen on

www.totalartsoul.com

The Entry

This theme as a title sounds like a symphony to me! Luas reminds me the very

first tramway line I saw in my hometown back in the 80s. It all started with a

single line carefully planned, slowly but persistently engraving its way through

various parts of the city. Then the line extended, duplicated, to finally connect

with the neighbouring countryside. In the same way, I imagined Luas as the

‘Doorknocker’ of the Old City of Dublin, calling and opening its gates to a mosaic

of people, sites, options, events and celebrations… Relax and plan your trip!

Luas is inviting, caring, friendly, informative, easy, handy, clean and affordable.

Just knock on the door, Luas answers every call.

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5) Name: Aengus Hughes Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Human Heart

The Artist

Aengus is a Graphic Designer from Dublin. He changed lanes along his career

path several years ago to pursue his dream of working in this area. He loves

clever artwork and great typography and looking after the most creative person

he knows, his 2 year old son. He is currently free lance and seeing regular

employment.

The Entry

The poster image is a collage in the shape of a human heart. It links the Luas to

the sights, entertainment, shopping, business sector and glamour of Dublin.

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6) Name: Ross McDonagh Position: Runner-up

Entry Title: Red/Green

The Artist

Ross McDonagh has worked as a journalist with Metro Herald for the past five

years. My piece is a groundbreaking avant-garde progressive statement about

the war in Iraq, and about the loss of Ireland's independence, and the loss of our

childhoods. It is a contemporary, cutting edge and daring examination of the

boundaries of society as a whole, a contemplative and seductive declaration of

the human conscious that both pushes the envelope yet refuses to be defined.

Seriously though, I just wanted to make something that would be nice to read

while people were waiting for the Luas.

The Entry

The poem dedicates a line to each stop on both Luas lines, and incorporates a

little fact or bit of information about the area. Obviously, for the central stops,

there were plenty of features to choose from. Out in the sticks it got a little

trickier. Google Street View would have made it a lot handier, had it not

launched a few days after I finished the poem.

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7) Name: Elisabeth Churchard Position: Runner-up

Entry Title: Luas taking you to the heart of Dublin

The Artist

I was born in a small village in Holland and moved to the remote town of

Castletownbere, Co. Cork when I was 10. I always loved art as a hobby. I

studied Architectural Technology in Waterford. After completing my Diploma I

moved to Dublin where I've been working in an architectural practice ever since.

Outside of my love for sports – rowing, I found a little time for painting but only

managed to finish a painting a year.

The Entry

The Theme of the artwork together with the reason for moving to Dublin gave

me inspiration for the finished piece. There is so much to see and do in the city.

Luas lines, Green and Red, come to the city to bring everyone to the heart of it

all. Only a handful of attractions could fit into the page to set the idea of ‘great

places of interest’ to be brought to. A handful of social events fill the base of the

picture depicting the many things we like to go to the city for. The fireworks both

add to the attractions and symbolize the success of the Luas. Now with a 10

month old baby, the ease of travel, thanks to the Luas itself, was the biggest

inspiration to my art work.

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8) Name: Jessica Tobin Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Croí Ceoil

The Artist

I studied in BCFE doing Art Design & 3d studies and Art design & mixed media. Then

on to NCAD to do a degree in Ceramic design, followed a few years later by a Hdip in

Community art education. During my college years I was involved in youth and

community programmes which led me to spend some time as a freelance community

artist with a wide range of youth and adult groups. Thus lead me to my current position

as a Youth Development Officer with Clondalkin Youth Services. My own work currently

takes on the form of illustrations which I do purely for enjoyment and are heavily

influenced by fashion, fashion photography and modern society. I am also part of

http://blindelephantillustrationcollective.blogspot.com/.

The Entry

For this piece I collaborated with The Street Art Crew in Knockmitten, Clondalkin. It is a

very new group aimed at celebrating the talents of the young people of the area through

a medium that they relate to, with the aim to use their art as a way of celebrating youth

and challenging the preconceptions people have of teenagers today.

Two of our current members Andrew and Ciara Blair chose the final piece. We did a few

sessions with our members, word storming to find out what are the fun places that the

luas takes young people to. Music stood out as a huge importance for them so after

much work on visuals and ideas they settled on the final entry. It was designed to

capture that which embodies modern youth culture and the main reasons young people

use the Luas, these reasons are fashion, music and friends. Though I designed the final

piece referencing the Luas map for colours & pattern, the young people chose it from

four potential entries, it was their ideas and their decision.

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9) Name: Brendan Boyle Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Croí na Cathrach

The Artist

Brendan Boyle graduated from the National College of Art and Design in

Dublin in 2007 with a BA Hons in Visual Communication. Previous to that he

completed a year’s BTEC Art Foundation course at Limavady College for

Further Education. He is currently living and working in Dublin as a freelance

illustrator and artist, undertaking commissions and creating work for further

exhibitions.

The Entry

Artwork was inspired by the ornamentation of vintage Art Noveau posters,

particluarly those by Alphonse Mucha. Aim of the piece was to give a brief

glance at the numerous culutural events that occur here throughout the year

and which are as unique and diverse as the Dublin people themeslves. And of

course the LUAS bringing you to the centre of all the excitement!

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10) Name: Carolyn Walsh Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Luas bringing you to the heart of Dublin

The Artist

Carolyn is studying for an MA in Graphic Design in DIT. Her education started

out in GMIT where she studied textile design for a number of years before

moving to Dublin, since graduating she has exhibited extensively throughout the

country kicking off in Brown Thomas, Habitat to Urban Outfitters and more. She

has worked for clients including Hotpress, Toyota and Absolute Zero (the

Netherlands). Her work has received a lot of recognition over the years with

commissions and features in publications such as Digital Arts, The Big Book of

Contemporary Illustration and Irish Interior magazines.

The Entry

Carolyn’s work is hugely inspired by the urban environment, by textures found in

everyday life, surrounding us on the streets and buildings, the stickered and

graffitied walls, peeling and fading, unplanned and unpredicted, the slums- the

rundown buildings which were once in immaculate condition, the hustle and

bustle that surrounds us are all depicted in her work to create a series of

‘Utopian Visions’. This is the main theme to her work. This image in particular

began with the concept ‘the Luas taking you to the heart of Dublin’ The image

began from photos taken around the city, with a play on characters, illustration

and paint the image was developed into a playful look on the city as it stands.

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11) Name: Emanuela Pietrobelli and Joaquim Duarte Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Luas taking you to the heart of Dublin

The Artists

Emanuela is a Design graduate from Brazil and is currently studying English.

Joaquim is Portuguese and a graduate of Graphic Design currently on an

Erasmus program in Germany.

The Entry

The poster follows exactly the meaning of what was proposed by the "Luas Art

Competition". With a simple and direct language the objective is to pass and reach the

audience of all ages, since the sign is already a recognizable image of the everyday of

all. In the poster “Luas” is not just a common means of transport, but is the essential

link between residents and tourists with the important places of the capital of Ireland.

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12) Name: Craig Dalton Position: Runner-up Entry Title: Untitled

The Artist

I am currently living in Dublin where I am in my final year studying for B.A. (hons)

degree in photography in IADT. I love the outdoors, art, sports and music. Whether

I’m shooting portraits, still life or landscapes I try to tell a story and spark an

emotion between the image and the viewer. For more info visit

www.craigdaltonphotography.com

The Entry

The image is a 5 image composite centred around the theme 'Luas taking you to

the Heart of Dublin.' I wanted to make a futuristic image to convey the state-of-the-

art light rail public transport system, an alternative to the car for the major suburban

areas in Dublin to the buzzing lights in the city centre. The trailing lights of the luas

shows the speed and ease as it rides over the busy streets and gives the

impression of a magical journey into a far away land, in this case, the buzzing lights

of Dublin city centre.