Car-bombs, death-threats, letter-bombs, retaliation, more death and more bombs. Perched On Peace.
In the heart of Dublin, street artist ADW has brought back one of his most poignant and politically resonant works: Perched On Peace. Originally painted in 2011 and now reimagined for a new era. The mural features a dove delicately balanced on a barbed wire nest. A striking image that captures the fragility of peace in a turbulent world. With his signature stencil style and powerful symbolism. ADW delivers a visual commentary that is both timeless and urgently relevant.
The dove, long recognised as a universal symbol of peace, is rendered here not in comfort or triumph, but in quiet tension. Its perch, a crude, circular tangle of barbed wire, evokes the uneasy ground on which many ceasefires and fragile truces are built. This is not a naïve peace, but a conditional one, dependent on vigilance, diplomacy, and delicate negotiation. The bird’s wary posture reminds viewers that peace is not a permanent state, but something that must be nurtured, protected, and fought for.
Set against the backdrop of Dublin’s urban walls, the mural reclaims public space for reflection and dialogue. It calls out to passersby, urging them to consider not just global conflicts. But also the everyday struggles for harmony in their own lives and communities. The stark contrast of soft feathers against harsh steel. It invites us to examine the contradictions of our times. Where hope often coexists with fear, and where beauty can be found even in the shadow of violence.
ADW’s image is more than a piece of street art. It’s a visual meditation on the cost of peace and the constant effort it demands. In a world where balance is increasingly rare, the message is clear: peace, always, feels precariously perched.
