A much-loved piece of graffiti in Derry has been transformed into a new mural by an internationally renowned street artist after it was defaced in recent months.
The simple ‘Keeper Lit Sunshine’ graffiti first appeared alongside a smiley face on a gable wall facing the busy Foyle Road around five years ago.
It quickly struck a chord with people across the city but was recently defaced by what has been described as “unsightly” graffiti.
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Ruairi O’Connell, project coordinator at Gasyard Wall Féile, told The Irish News that while it was sad to see the original graffiti defaced, it provided them with “an opportunity to do something with it”.
“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 said.
“It lasted as 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 revitalise the mural, or to bring it back to life.”
The mural’s transformation formed part of Féile’s ‘Graffiti on the Walls’ project, which aims to bring spaces in the city to life with street art.
They commissioned internationally renowned street artist Dave Bonzai to reimagine the original message.
The original graffiti was defaced in recent months PICTURE: FÉILE DERRY
He completed the work at the end of March, much to the delight of passers-by.
“This road is very busy, there’s a lot of people coming into the city using this road,” Mr O’Connell 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 added that there had been thousands of interactions with the new mural after they shared the finished project online,
“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 said.
“It’s a phrase that is connected to the people of this city.”