Dublin’s North Wall Quay is the site of Restless: Liffey Love, a new public art installation created by artist Rhona Byrne.
Unveiled on 15 September 2024, the work is made entirely from waste plastic recovered from the River Liffey. One million pieces of plastic were transformed into a pair of modular love seats shaped like surging waves.
Byrne’s vision was to capture the energy of the river. “I wanted them to have this dynamic movement and also they’re like the wave from a boat in action,” she explained. The design, though unusual, offers a variety of comfortable seating options with “all different kinds of ways of perching and sitting,” she added.
Photo by Malcolm McGettigan.
Commissioned by Dublin City Council and funded through the Per Cent for Arts scheme, Restless: Liffey Love is a celebration of community collaboration and sustainability. The project was developed in partnership with the Irish Nautical Trust and its Liffey Sweeper initiative, which trawls the river for waste. The harvested plastic was then transformed into sheet form by Paltech Polymer engineers and shaped into the final components by industrial designers Billings Jackson Design and fabricators Steel Smith.
The idea for the installation was born at the Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club, where Byrne, a member, first presented her vision in 2023. The Liffey Love project is not only a tribute to the River Liffey and its role in Dublin’s history, but also a commentary on the pressing issue of plastic pollution, which persists despite improvements in water quality since the 18th century.
“Restless is about a sense of anxiety in the world and our city and an urge to take action to make change. It’s love as an action”
Rhona Byrne
Byrne views Restless: Liffey Love as more than an art piece; it is a call to action. “Restless is about a sense of anxiety in the world and our city and an urge to take action to make change. It’s love as an action,” she explained. She hopes the installation will inspire a deeper sense of pride and responsibility.
“I see the sculptures as if they are in dynamic movement and have a sense of potential. A million bits of waste assembled together to create a new destination in the city. Making a million small actions possibly to create big change,” she noted.
The unveiling in September was well-received, and Byrne plans to organise a series of events and discussions about the sculpture to spark a dialogue on environmental stewardship and marine health. A QR code at the site will provide additional information and resources related to the project, encouraging further reflection on the impact of waste and the possibilities of recycling.
Byrne hopes the benches will “become part of daily life here in the city,” and a cherished addition to Dublin’s landscape, a place for people to sit, reflect and consider their relationship with the environment.
Liffey Love is a public art project by artist Rhona Byrne. Follow Rhona on Instagram at @rhona_byrne.