The vibrant and beloved graffiti located in Derry has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving into a new mural crafted by an internationally acclaimed street artist. This change comes after the original piece was defaced in recent months, sparking a renewed effort to restore its artistic value.
The original graffiti, titled “Keeper Lit Sunshine,” first appeared alongside a smiley face on a gable wall facing the bustling Foyle Road approximately five years ago. Its simple yet powerful message resonated with residents and visitors alike, quickly becoming a cherished part of the city’s cultural landscape. However, it was recently marred by what has been described as “unsightly” graffiti, prompting a call for action.
Ruairi O’Connell, project coordinator at Gasyard Wall Féile, shared his thoughts on the situation with The Irish News. He expressed that while it was unfortunate to see the original graffiti defaced, it presented an opportunity to revitalize the space.
“It was just in black paint, it was kind of crudely done, but there was like a feeling that it sort of evoked within myself, for many residents in the area and for people visiting the city,” he explained.
“This piece became a kind of cult part of the gallery of street art. It sort of rose into that echelon. It was defaced with unsightly graffiti; we sort of saw it as an opportunity to revitalise the mural, or to bring it back to life.”
The transformation of the mural was part of Gasyard Wall Féile’s ‘Graffiti on the Walls’ project, which seeks to enhance urban spaces through the power of street art. As part of this initiative, they enlisted the talents of Dave Bonzai, an internationally renowned street artist, to reimagine the original message.
Bonzai completed the work at the end of March, much to the delight of passers-by. According to Mr. O’Connell, the location is one of the busiest in the city, with many people using the road to enter Derry.
“This road is very busy, there’s a lot of people coming into the city using this road,” he said. “Dave said he’s never had more people shout from cars at him while he was doing a mural. He had a really positive experience.”
Mr. O’Connell also highlighted the overwhelmingly positive response to the new mural since it was shared online.
“There have been thousands of interactions with the new mural after we shared the finished project online,” he added. “It’s been so positive; and it’s just been such a bright spot for the city in the last couple of days – and it’s just amazing to see it.”
He concluded by emphasizing the connection between the phrase and the people of Derry.
“It’s a phrase that is connected to the people of this city.”
