WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR PAINTED BY KITSUNE JOELENE
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR PAINTED BY KITSUNE JOELENE [BARRACK STREET WATERFORD WALLS 2023]
Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit Waterford in 2023, as I had problems booking a hotel in August and and I also failed to visit in 2024 as the hotel cancelled my booking. When I did manage to make it in 2025, my visit to the Barrack Street area was brief, so it's very possible I missed other murals.
Kitsune Jolene, a Belgian muralist, is a significant figure in contemporary street art, celebrated for her emotional, narrative-driven works. Her 2023 contribution to the Waterford Walls festival, "What Are You Waiting For?", stands as a powerful example of her focus on self-worth and emotional independence. The mural's message, conveyed through the artist's own public statements, delves into the process of internal growth and personal fulfilment. While this specific piece is her only known commission for the Waterford Walls festival to date, she has a sustained engagement with the wider Irish street art scene, with previous work in Cork.
The Waterford Walls Festival and the Artist
The Waterford Walls festival has established itself as a premier platform for urban art in Ireland. Operating under The Walls Project, a social enterprise dedicated to delivering large-scale public art, the festival's mission is to revitalise urban and rural spaces by commissioning national and international artists to create large-scale murals. This initiative transforms public facades into vibrant canvases and engages communities through live art, workshops, and educational outreach. The festival's commitment to community and artistic collaboration provides an essential backdrop for understanding the impact of a work like Jolene's, as it places the art directly within a framework of civic and cultural revitalisation.
Kitsune Jolene, whose given name is Jolien De Waele, is a highly regarded street artist born in 1992 and based in Ghent, Belgium. Her participation in the Waterford Walls festival in 2023, along with other commissions across Ireland, positions her as a notable international artist whose contributions are enriching the country's dynamic street art landscape.
Kitsune Jolene's Artistic Style
Jolien De Waele began her career with a foundation in academic study, having pursued degrees in Visual Art & Architecture and Art History. She soon chose to diverge from a purely academic path, however, making a conscious decision to pursue a hands-on, "creative existence" as a muralist. This choice underscores a profound dedication to public art as a medium for direct expression.
Initially, she was drawn to the immediacy and freedom of spray paint, but her technique has since evolved considerably. She now employs a sophisticated, mixed-media approach, combining the swift application of spray cans with the nuanced detail and layering possible with brushes and other tools. This demonstrates her artistic maturity and a willingness to transcend the traditional confines of graffiti to create more complex, painterly works.
A Dreamy and Emotive Style
The core of Kitsune Jolene's aesthetic is defined by its focus on "dreamy and surreal storytelling" and "emotive visual storytelling." Her style is not merely decorative; it places her work firmly within a narrative tradition, where each mural tells a story or evokes a specific emotional state.
A central element of her artistic identity is her "recognisable vibrant colour palette." She is particularly adept at creating a compelling visual and emotional dynamic by playing with contrasting elements, such as combining "intimate softness and bold colours" within the public space. This deliberate use of contrast adds a layer of complexity, making her murals visually striking while also communicating a duality of emotion.
Thematic Exploration and Influences
Kitsune Jolene's creative process is deeply introspective, with her art drawing directly from "the human experience and her own personal exploration through life." The resulting paintings are often described as "overflowing with emotion." This connection to her personal journey allows her work to resonate on an intimate level. Furthermore, she has publicly stated that she "cares deeply about mental health," and this focus is a recurring theme in her work. By addressing such subjects, she imbues her murals with a layer of social commentary and emotional resonance, elevating them beyond simple aesthetics.
In addition to her personal narratives, Kitsune Jolene frequently infuses her works with "subtle nods to various cultures and myths" and local folklore. This is exemplified by her 2022 mural in Cork, Ireland, titled "Danu." The work intentionally fuses the mythology of the Celtic mother goddess, Danu, with the physical geography of the city, specifically the River Lee. This fusion of ancient legend with the local environment allows her to create murals that are both universally resonant and deeply specific to their location, inviting communities to connect with the art on a personal and historical level.
This approach reveals a sophisticated artistic strategy that merges deeply personal experiences with ancient, universal myths. By weaving her own introspective journeys into the framework of established cultural narratives, she transforms abstract emotional concepts into tangible, relatable visual parables painted on public walls. Her murals thus serve as contemporary allegories, prompting viewers to discover their own private stories reflected within the larger, shared cultural tales she depicts. This process externalises introspection, making personal emotion accessible and validating for a broad audience.
"What Are You Waiting For?": A Comprehensive Analysis
The mural "What Are You Waiting For?" was created for the Waterford Walls festival in 2023. It is located at 14 Barrack Street, Waterford, and its creation was documented with photographs taken by the artist and Mike Chaney. The artwork was officially "Hunted" by Waterford Walls Official for the Street Art Cities database. This documentation solidifies its place within the official festival catalogue and provides a verifiable record of its existence.
While many online sources provide factual details about the mural's location and artist, a description of its visual elements or meaning is notably absent from several platforms. This makes the artist's own commentary on the work particularly important. On her public social media, Kitsune Jolene has provided a direct and explicit interpretation of the mural's central message.
According to her statement, the mural is about "discovering the importance of self love, above anyone else's." She explains that the artwork is a reflection of a personal journey towards emotional independence, articulating the challenge of "learning to fill up my own cup" to move from a place of "needing" love from others to "wanting" love. This concept extends to the idea of personal fulfilment, as she describes the need to "stop chasing others for fulfilment" and instead allow love to "overflow into others naturally" from an internal source.
The mural, therefore, functions as a modern manifesto on mental health and personal growth. By explicitly placing a message filled with modern psychological concepts—such as the distinction between a state of "needing" and "wanting" and the metaphor of "filling one's own cup"—onto a public wall in Waterford, she effectively democratises a deeply personal and often stigmatised topic. The artwork becomes an unsolicited but readily accessible piece of emotional guidance, offering a moment of introspection and validation to anyone who encounters it.
Other Art in Ireland
A comprehensive review of Kitsune Jolene's official project list indicates that her 2023 mural is her only known contribution to the Waterford Walls festival. The list meticulously logs her projects year by year, and her participation in the festival is cited exclusively under the year 2023.
While her contribution to the Waterford Walls festival is limited to a single year, this does not represent her only artistic engagement with Ireland. She created a separate mural in Cork in 2022 for the Ardú Street Art festival. This distinction is crucial for providing a complete and accurate overview of her presence and influence in the country.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to visit Waterford in 2023, as I had problems booking a hotel in August and and I also failed to visit in 2024 as the hotel cancelled my booking. When I did manage to make it in 2025, my visit to the Barrack Street area was brief, so it's very possible I missed other murals.
Kitsune Jolene, a Belgian muralist, is a significant figure in contemporary street art, celebrated for her emotional, narrative-driven works. Her 2023 contribution to the Waterford Walls festival, "What Are You Waiting For?", stands as a powerful example of her focus on self-worth and emotional independence. The mural's message, conveyed through the artist's own public statements, delves into the process of internal growth and personal fulfilment. While this specific piece is her only known commission for the Waterford Walls festival to date, she has a sustained engagement with the wider Irish street art scene, with previous work in Cork.
The Waterford Walls Festival and the Artist
The Waterford Walls festival has established itself as a premier platform for urban art in Ireland. Operating under The Walls Project, a social enterprise dedicated to delivering large-scale public art, the festival's mission is to revitalise urban and rural spaces by commissioning national and international artists to create large-scale murals. This initiative transforms public facades into vibrant canvases and engages communities through live art, workshops, and educational outreach. The festival's commitment to community and artistic collaboration provides an essential backdrop for understanding the impact of a work like Jolene's, as it places the art directly within a framework of civic and cultural revitalisation.
Kitsune Jolene, whose given name is Jolien De Waele, is a highly regarded street artist born in 1992 and based in Ghent, Belgium. Her participation in the Waterford Walls festival in 2023, along with other commissions across Ireland, positions her as a notable international artist whose contributions are enriching the country's dynamic street art landscape.
Kitsune Jolene's Artistic Style
Jolien De Waele began her career with a foundation in academic study, having pursued degrees in Visual Art & Architecture and Art History. She soon chose to diverge from a purely academic path, however, making a conscious decision to pursue a hands-on, "creative existence" as a muralist. This choice underscores a profound dedication to public art as a medium for direct expression.
Initially, she was drawn to the immediacy and freedom of spray paint, but her technique has since evolved considerably. She now employs a sophisticated, mixed-media approach, combining the swift application of spray cans with the nuanced detail and layering possible with brushes and other tools. This demonstrates her artistic maturity and a willingness to transcend the traditional confines of graffiti to create more complex, painterly works.
A Dreamy and Emotive Style
The core of Kitsune Jolene's aesthetic is defined by its focus on "dreamy and surreal storytelling" and "emotive visual storytelling." Her style is not merely decorative; it places her work firmly within a narrative tradition, where each mural tells a story or evokes a specific emotional state.
A central element of her artistic identity is her "recognisable vibrant colour palette." She is particularly adept at creating a compelling visual and emotional dynamic by playing with contrasting elements, such as combining "intimate softness and bold colours" within the public space. This deliberate use of contrast adds a layer of complexity, making her murals visually striking while also communicating a duality of emotion.
Thematic Exploration and Influences
Kitsune Jolene's creative process is deeply introspective, with her art drawing directly from "the human experience and her own personal exploration through life." The resulting paintings are often described as "overflowing with emotion." This connection to her personal journey allows her work to resonate on an intimate level. Furthermore, she has publicly stated that she "cares deeply about mental health," and this focus is a recurring theme in her work. By addressing such subjects, she imbues her murals with a layer of social commentary and emotional resonance, elevating them beyond simple aesthetics.
In addition to her personal narratives, Kitsune Jolene frequently infuses her works with "subtle nods to various cultures and myths" and local folklore. This is exemplified by her 2022 mural in Cork, Ireland, titled "Danu." The work intentionally fuses the mythology of the Celtic mother goddess, Danu, with the physical geography of the city, specifically the River Lee. This fusion of ancient legend with the local environment allows her to create murals that are both universally resonant and deeply specific to their location, inviting communities to connect with the art on a personal and historical level.
This approach reveals a sophisticated artistic strategy that merges deeply personal experiences with ancient, universal myths. By weaving her own introspective journeys into the framework of established cultural narratives, she transforms abstract emotional concepts into tangible, relatable visual parables painted on public walls. Her murals thus serve as contemporary allegories, prompting viewers to discover their own private stories reflected within the larger, shared cultural tales she depicts. This process externalises introspection, making personal emotion accessible and validating for a broad audience.
"What Are You Waiting For?": A Comprehensive Analysis
The mural "What Are You Waiting For?" was created for the Waterford Walls festival in 2023. It is located at 14 Barrack Street, Waterford, and its creation was documented with photographs taken by the artist and Mike Chaney. The artwork was officially "Hunted" by Waterford Walls Official for the Street Art Cities database. This documentation solidifies its place within the official festival catalogue and provides a verifiable record of its existence.
While many online sources provide factual details about the mural's location and artist, a description of its visual elements or meaning is notably absent from several platforms. This makes the artist's own commentary on the work particularly important. On her public social media, Kitsune Jolene has provided a direct and explicit interpretation of the mural's central message.
According to her statement, the mural is about "discovering the importance of self love, above anyone else's." She explains that the artwork is a reflection of a personal journey towards emotional independence, articulating the challenge of "learning to fill up my own cup" to move from a place of "needing" love from others to "wanting" love. This concept extends to the idea of personal fulfilment, as she describes the need to "stop chasing others for fulfilment" and instead allow love to "overflow into others naturally" from an internal source.
The mural, therefore, functions as a modern manifesto on mental health and personal growth. By explicitly placing a message filled with modern psychological concepts—such as the distinction between a state of "needing" and "wanting" and the metaphor of "filling one's own cup"—onto a public wall in Waterford, she effectively democratises a deeply personal and often stigmatised topic. The artwork becomes an unsolicited but readily accessible piece of emotional guidance, offering a moment of introspection and validation to anyone who encounters it.
Other Art in Ireland
A comprehensive review of Kitsune Jolene's official project list indicates that her 2023 mural is her only known contribution to the Waterford Walls festival. The list meticulously logs her projects year by year, and her participation in the festival is cited exclusively under the year 2023.
While her contribution to the Waterford Walls festival is limited to a single year, this does not represent her only artistic engagement with Ireland. She created a separate mural in Cork in 2022 for the Ardú Street Art festival. This distinction is crucial for providing a complete and accurate overview of her presence and influence in the country.