The council wasn’t hiring a municipal walker, but she took the job anyway
Once a month since September 2022, artist Lian Bell has done a full circuit of the North and South Circular Roads, observing these 14km through the seasons.
This month’s cover illustration was inspired by the crazy footpath parking that’s common all over the city.
“The strong Irish sunlight, the cloudy backdrop and the jacket worn by one of the boaters summarise how I think summers are in this city.”
I loved working on this illustration because it explores the universal experience of feeling afraid while being alone in public.
“Even though I really love living in London, I get pangs for Dublin City at random, unexpected times.”
“I have bundles of books that I’ve yet to touch. Now that I’ve run out of shelf space, books are starting to pile up in drawers and along the walls.”
“Welcoming as many as 200,000 Ukrainian refugees is to be applauded. But, it is right too, to question the government’s treatment of the thousands of non-European asylum-seekers living for years within direct provision, in state-sponsored poverty with their lives on hold.”
“My image captures the harshness of nature as it has reclaimed this space during 15 years of being uncared for while big developers argue over their future plans.”
“I created this cover piece in celebration of Irish biodiversity and invite you to finish colouring it in. Find out what species are included in it and where they flourish at mild.ie.”
“This image is about the lightbulb moments that have come to me while commuting to work on the Dart: ideas from photographs I took, to the inspiration I get from the sky, the sea and, as a gardener, from flowers and their symbolism (the language of flowers).”
“For this illustration, I wanted to show the different things happening in the house around Christmas time and the little elements that only turn up at Christmas, like the Toy Show and tins of sweets.”
Autumn is my favourite time of year, for the colours mostly and for the quiet slowness that comes with it.
“I am greatly inspired by the landscape of my childhood, Mill Lane in Palmerstown and head out to photograph it as often as possible.”