The artist behind a series of eye-catching street murals has spoken of her determination to bring “inspiring” artwork to all in the area.
Madeleine W. Pires, a 41-year-old who lives near Warrington, has been hard at work decorating the walls of Kirkdale’s terraces with flower themed paintings. This is inspired by the series of streets in the area named after flowers.
Madeleine has already completed one painting on Pansy Street, with colourful shrubbery surrounded by bold purple. It is dedicated to the “residents of the Flower Streets both past and present”.
READ MORE: Popular Asian restaurant launches new city centre restaurant
Madeleine has been working as an artist for over 20 years, but this is the biggest undertaking in her career. She said: “I feel exhausted but elated. It’s been a mammoth project and I’ve never done anything this big before, but I’m really pleased to see that I’ve pulled it off. I’ve gone through a lot of paint and energy.”
The Flower Streets murals were commissioned by Liverpool City Council, working with Culture Liverpool. The project is being led by 'dot-art' an art gallery and consultancy based on Queen Avenue, just off Castle Street.
Madeleine is the artist, while dot-art’s managing director Lucy Byrne is the project manager. Over the course of the project, Madeleine has been helped by numerous volunteers, including art students from Liverpool’s universities.
Madeleine has previously worked on big oil paintings and private commissions as well as tutoring for adults and school children, with her art classes with retired people proving particularly popular. This close work with people from all walks of life made her well placed to play a role in a community project like this.
Madeleine said: “I’m used to speaking to people of varying ages. I like listening to people’s stories. We all go through different troubles in life. I’ve lived in lots of different places. I seem, most of the time, to bring out people’s good sides. I love the way art interests and surprises us in different ways, and brings a smile to our faces.”
What’s made this project different, according to Madeleine, is that it has brought art out into the open rather than behind closed doors. She said: “From an artist's point of view, I’ve got a house filled with canvases. There’s no point in having art there where no one can see it. It’s not the same to have everything online either.”
She said: “Good art should be where everyone should be able to see it for free when they’re walking down the street. It should be something inspiring.”
The Flower Street murals fit this philosophy, with passers-by on Commercial Road able to admire the bold displays. It also chimes well with Madeleine's love of trees and organic forms, a common theme throughout her work.
This is not to say the area can be majorly transformed solely through this project. An ECHO article in 2021 argued that the area’s “steady decline”, seen in the problems of antisocial behaviour and violence, may have been prompted by the houses on the street “being sold to various developers and private landlords over the past 20 years”.
Acknowledging these issues, Madeleine said: “I know I’m not gonna solve every problem in a community by doing a painting, it’s a lot more complex than that. But it can bring a bit of comfort and joy to people’s hearts when they see it.”
It remains unknown why the streets are named after flowers, with many houses in the area having small outdoor terraces rather than gardens. A number of theories have been put forward, including to help the postmen in the area deliver their mail and to contrast with the heavy industry that once lay opposite the streets.
The art and creative world is not the easiest industry to flourish in, but Madeleine wouldn’t have it any other way. She said: “It’s not the easiest career and there’s lots of competition, but I’m simply doing what I always wanted to do and I’ve been determined to achieve that.”
She added: “It’s a lot of hard work, it’s not very glamorous, it’s a lot of tidying up and mess. But if you want to make a good meal, you’ve got to get the food out of the fridge and get the chopping board dirty.”
Madeleine's Pansy Street mural is complete and the piece on Woodbine Street is well underway. Further artwork is planned for Daisy Street and Harebell Street.
Life through a new lens. We are Curiously. Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
READ NEXT:
