THE EYES OF ISCA | The mural story
Artwork commissioned by IN EXETER
Artist Statement
The Eyes of Isca — Isca was the Roman name for Exeter, with the eyes watching over the city and its stories.
I wanted to draw on my experience as both an artist and an architect, responding to the architecture in a way that would create something unique.
It needed to have impact from a distance, from whichever direction you approached it, while also revealing the past events and history to the area the closer you got.
The intention was that the more you looked, the more you would discover. Each time you walked past, another detail or story would reveal itself, evolving through the eyes of the people who experience it, revealing more of Exeter every time you look.
Artwork statement
The Eyes of Isca is a vibrant mural by SZABOTAGE, designed specifically around the architecture of the wall to tell the story of Fore Street, its history, people and everyday character.
Painted in SZABOTAGE’s freehand stencil language, the mural transforms the architecture of the wall into a playful visual journey through Exeter’s past and present. Bold colour, expressive forms and unexpected details bring together local history, community stories, independent traders and the everyday moments that give Fore Street its identity.
The design responds directly to the building, incorporating its unusual shape and projecting flying buttress. Because the wall can be experienced from different angles, large eyes are positioned across its surfaces, creating the playful sense that they are watching and following you as you move.
Surrounding the eyes is a collection of SZABOTAGE icons, each telling a different part of the story, from Exeter’s Roman heritage and historic cloth industry, to local sayings, Mary the award-winning war-hero pigeon, the medieval house moved on wheels to make way for a new road, represented here on roller skates, and the infamous Ottons hardware store. Alongside these are references to the present-day Fore Street , its independent traders, food and coffee, buskers, community spirit and the people who wave as they pass.
The imagery mixes history with humour and observation, using familiar objects and local references in unexpected ways. Some stories are immediately recognisable, others reveal themselves only when you stop and look closer.
The Eyes of Isca is designed to make people look, smile, discover and connect with the place around them, bringing together the layers of history and character that make Fore Street unique.
Creating this has been a real journey of discovery about Exeter and a big thank you to everyone who shared their stories, ideas and time, and helped make this happen.
