The practice of mural or wall paintings started in the late 19th century. They were done in walls or ceilings at that time. The primary objective was to create awareness on social, political, and religious issues. Artists who used to make murals were also called mural artists. The mural is not just a work of art, it is a powerful tool for addressing social problems or achieving political goals. Sometimes murals have been made to raise voices against wrongdoings and sometimes in local restaurants or coffee shops to enhance the beauty of the interior. But today we will discuss some of the most impactful urban murals in the world.
Iheart, Nobody Likes Me, Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada
A boy holds a mobile phone, his face contorted with the agonizing discovery that nobody has liked his latest Instagram post. At a time where we are permanently connected, we are simultaneously permanently disconnected from each other. Iheart explores this toxic need for validation, and how Instagram likes have become a crucial means for measuring self-worth.
Banksy, Girl with Balloon, London, UK
In 2017, the enigmatic Banksy’s Balloon Girl was named Britain’s favourite artwork, beating the pastoral scenes of Constable’s 1821 painting, The Hay Wain. The heart-shaped balloon is symbolic of love and hope, and it floats just out of reach of the monochromatic silhouette of a young girl. Banky’s decision to depict such crucial notions through the tenuous form of a balloon, shows the fleeting nature of these sentiments, and how they can so easily drift away.
Vhils, Factory Worker, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong
The urban landscape is truly Alexandre Farto’s (Vhils) canvas, yet instead of a spray can, Vhils’ go-to items are a hard hat and respirator. As he carves away brick, plaster and stone, the Portuguese artist manages to reveal highly detailed and beautiful bas-reliefs, as though they were intricately etched into bronze or ivory. Vhils frequently explores the damaging consequences of industrialisation and development in cities across the globe, representing the unsung heroes of the modern, machine-manic climate. In 2015, Vhils unveiled the portrait of a former factory worker on the wall of a Nan Fung Textiles building in Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong. The textiles building was being converted into a creative space called The Mills, reflecting the disposable nature of workers in the contemporary industrial climate.
Keith Haring, We the Youth, Philadelphia, USA
American street artist, Keith Haring, was not only an established street artist, but a social activist in his own right. His large-scale murals provided a discourse for homosexuality and AIDS, crushing taboos and addressing societal injustices through his visual poetry. Created in 1987, We the Youth is the only Haring mural that remains untarnished and in its original site. The famous piece was painted to commemorate the two-hundredth anniversary of the United States Constitution, playing on the phrase “We the people.”
The technique of expressing one’s thoughts through art is not new. But the platform has now shifted from royal art houses and exhibition centers to the streets; the real birthplace of art.
We hope you get to know something interesting today. Let’s know your thoughts in the comments section below.
