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Street artist ADW ahead of the launch of his Pricks and Mortar exhibition at Dublin's South Studios. seanandyvette photography
The Hangover

In photos: Street artist's exhibition examines Celtic Tiger hangover

ADW’s exhibition features stencil work and 3D pieces including Monopoly-like cement blocks and a discarded cement mixer painted in Celtic Tiger stripes.

AN ART EXHIBITION which sums up Ireland’s post-Celtic Tiger hangover using pieces works including brightly coloured Monopoly-like cement blocks and a stencil work of the gates of Leinster House dubbed ‘National Zoo’ opens this evening at Dublin’s South Studios.

The exhibition features stencil work, 3D pieces and installations created by street artist ADW, who held his first solo show last year.

A mock sitting room takes up one corner of the exhibit, surrounded by signs of the construction sector, including a discarded cement mixer painted in Celtic Tiger-like stripes.

Gallery: Check out some of the Pricks and Mortar exhibition:

In photos: Street artist's exhibition examines Celtic Tiger hangover
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  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    Monopoly Breeze Blocks being put into position in the South Studios Gallery in Dublin. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    Artwork entitled Riot Police at the Pricks and Mortar exhibition by ADW. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    Curators lift a stencil of the gates of Leinster House entitled The National Zoo into position. Picture date:Thursday, October 20 2011. The show runs for three days from October 21-23. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    A curators works on the mobile, Game of Love, in the South Studios Gallery in Dublin as he sets up the new exhibition. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    A cement mixer is put into position at the Pricks and Mortar exhibition by street artist ADW. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    A stencil called Lampooning the Naas Ball is fixed into position. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    Monopoly Breeze Blocks, part of ADW's Pricks and Mortar exhibition. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    Curators lift a sign made from used spray cans. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)
  • Pricks and Mortar exhibition

    A stencil entitled The Jerk by street artist ADW. (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

The artist, a former computer games industry employee and graphic designer, worked in Britain before returning to Ireland during the boom and was stunned at the precedence wealth creation had taken over other issues in Ireland.

When the recession struck, he lost his job. A spokesperson for the exhibition said the downturn brought liberation for ADW: “It killed his livelihood, but breathed life into his art.”

ADW concentrated on creating street art full-time after becoming unemployed. A strong feature in his work has been the wreckage of economic collapse, and ADW infuses satire and dark humour into his pieces.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie ahead of the launch, media-shy ADW said he wasn’t sure where the theme for his new exhibition, Pricks and Mortar, came from initially. He was struck, though, with how caught up in the property and construction boom people became – the effects of which are still very much with us.

“We’re all living on a building site,” he said.

The exhibition runs from 6-10pm today, and 12-6pm on Saturday and Sunday. For more information visit the exhibition’s Facebook page.

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