Samaritans: Talking Helps Mend

Client: Samaritans Dublin Agency: TBWA\Dublin  ECD/Copywriter: Des Creedon Creative Director: Niall Staines Artist: Joe Caslin Poet: Daragh Fleming The campaign that restored strength to Dublin’s walls and its people. A campaign to show how talking and being listened to helps the process of mending by drawing a comparison to the artistic practice of Kintsugi. Involving a mural by artist Joe Caslin, this ancient Japanese art is brought to life through a visual metaphor to drive awareness of the Samaritan’s round-the-clock provision of services and support to those who need it most. Kintsugi, a centuries-old artistic practice meaning ‘golden joinery’, involves repairing ceramics that have fallen into disrepair with lacquer and gold. Our lives can be similarly infused with fragility, setbacks and unpredictability - even at the best of times. But our lives, much like ceramics, can be repaired and pieced back together with even more beauty. This parallel between this idea and the vital service provided by the Dublin Samaritans. Talking, and being listened to, can be what pieces things back together. In addition to embracing an openness towards cracks that might have appeared in ourselves, these thoughts are the cornerstone of the Dublin Samaritans - seen through their team of volunteers to listen without judgement, 24/7.