BY ANIMALITOLAND FROM ARGENTINA
BY ANIMALITOLAND FROM ARGENTINA FOR WATERFORD WALLS 2018 PHOTOGRAPHED AUGUST 2025 [DOYLE STREET - ST IGNATIUS STREET]
Animalitoland's mural from the 2018 festival is located on Doyle Street, near its junction with St Ignatius Street. The mural depicts a large, purplish, bear-like creature sitting, with its head thrown back in a joyous, laughing expression. It holds a small, childlike figure wearing a red hoodie, who in turn holds a glowing, lightbulb-like object. The scene is set against a vibrant background that radiates a warm, yellow light from behind the large creature, with abstract, geometric shapes and symbols on the left side of the building's facade. The style is recognisably consistent with the artist's signature aesthetic, which often features "fantastic creatures" and children in a "colourful explosion". The presence of this artwork, and its clear recognisability, reinforces the festival's success in commissioning works that resonate with the public while maintaining artistic integrity.
In August 2018, the city of Waterford was transformed into a large-scale outdoor gallery as it hosted the fourth edition of the Waterford Walls festival. Among the numerous artworks that emerged from this event was a mural by Argentinian artist Graciela Gonçalves Da Silva, an artist better known by her moniker, Animalitoland. Situated at the corner of Doyle Street and St Ignatius Street, this specific mural stands out not only for its artistic merit but also for its exceptional state of preservation. The fact that an outdoor public artwork, exposed to the elements for several years, has survived so well invites a deeper inquiry into the artist, the festival, and the unique socio-cultural dynamics that contribute to the endurance of street art.
Graciela Gonçalves Da Silva’s artistic journey is defined by a significant transition from a conventional career path to a life of creative freedom. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she pursued a formal education, graduating with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Buenos Aires. For over a decade, she honed her craft in various visual fields, including comics, fanzines, animation, video games, toys, and graphic design. However, she found her true calling in 2011 when she began painting freely in the streets, a decision she describes as a "personal and artistic revolution".
This monumental shift in her life culminated in 2014 when she made the definitive choice to leave her designer job to become a full-time artist and a self-described "world nomad". This nomadic existence, which has taken her to countries including Spain, Germany, the UK, France, Hungary, China, and Canada, is central to her creative process. It has enabled her to establish a global artistic footprint, with more than 60 murals created across the American continent, Europe, and Asia. This constant motion is not a sign of instability but rather a deliberate choice that provides her with the energy and inspiration to tackle new ideas continuously.
The 2018 edition of the festival was particularly significant, marking a substantial increase in scale and ambition. The event ran for a full ten days, from the 17th to the 26th of August, and brought together a spectacular line-up of between 45 and 50 local, national, and international artists. This expansion provided a larger and more prominent platform for artists and was accompanied by an extensive programme of ancillary events, including workshops, guided tours, and expert panel talks.
The festival's roster was a testament to its growing international prestige, attracting globally recognised artists such as Fintan Magee from Australia, Dan Kitchener from the UK, and Sonny from South Africa. Notably, Animalitoland was a returning artist for the 2018 festival , having previously painted in Waterford in 2017. Her return underscores the high calibre of the talent the festival attracts and her established relationship with the event's organisers. This dynamic illustrates the festival's role in leveraging high-calibre artistic talent to achieve its social and economic goals for the city.
Animalitoland's mural from the 2018 festival is located on Doyle Street, near its junction with St Ignatius Street. The mural depicts a large, purplish, bear-like creature sitting, with its head thrown back in a joyous, laughing expression. It holds a small, childlike figure wearing a red hoodie, who in turn holds a glowing, lightbulb-like object. The scene is set against a vibrant background that radiates a warm, yellow light from behind the large creature, with abstract, geometric shapes and symbols on the left side of the building's facade. The style is recognisably consistent with the artist's signature aesthetic, which often features "fantastic creatures" and children in a "colourful explosion". The presence of this artwork, and its clear recognisability, reinforces the festival's success in commissioning works that resonate with the public while maintaining artistic integrity.
In August 2018, the city of Waterford was transformed into a large-scale outdoor gallery as it hosted the fourth edition of the Waterford Walls festival. Among the numerous artworks that emerged from this event was a mural by Argentinian artist Graciela Gonçalves Da Silva, an artist better known by her moniker, Animalitoland. Situated at the corner of Doyle Street and St Ignatius Street, this specific mural stands out not only for its artistic merit but also for its exceptional state of preservation. The fact that an outdoor public artwork, exposed to the elements for several years, has survived so well invites a deeper inquiry into the artist, the festival, and the unique socio-cultural dynamics that contribute to the endurance of street art.
Graciela Gonçalves Da Silva’s artistic journey is defined by a significant transition from a conventional career path to a life of creative freedom. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she pursued a formal education, graduating with a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Buenos Aires. For over a decade, she honed her craft in various visual fields, including comics, fanzines, animation, video games, toys, and graphic design. However, she found her true calling in 2011 when she began painting freely in the streets, a decision she describes as a "personal and artistic revolution".
This monumental shift in her life culminated in 2014 when she made the definitive choice to leave her designer job to become a full-time artist and a self-described "world nomad". This nomadic existence, which has taken her to countries including Spain, Germany, the UK, France, Hungary, China, and Canada, is central to her creative process. It has enabled her to establish a global artistic footprint, with more than 60 murals created across the American continent, Europe, and Asia. This constant motion is not a sign of instability but rather a deliberate choice that provides her with the energy and inspiration to tackle new ideas continuously.
The 2018 edition of the festival was particularly significant, marking a substantial increase in scale and ambition. The event ran for a full ten days, from the 17th to the 26th of August, and brought together a spectacular line-up of between 45 and 50 local, national, and international artists. This expansion provided a larger and more prominent platform for artists and was accompanied by an extensive programme of ancillary events, including workshops, guided tours, and expert panel talks.
The festival's roster was a testament to its growing international prestige, attracting globally recognised artists such as Fintan Magee from Australia, Dan Kitchener from the UK, and Sonny from South Africa. Notably, Animalitoland was a returning artist for the 2018 festival , having previously painted in Waterford in 2017. Her return underscores the high calibre of the talent the festival attracts and her established relationship with the event's organisers. This dynamic illustrates the festival's role in leveraging high-calibre artistic talent to achieve its social and economic goals for the city.