Earlier this month Swiss based artist Onur was one of the 25 international and national artists who came together to paint in Napier (New Zealand) for a purpose and give our oceans a voice via art and activism. This event was curated by Sea Walls and organised by the PangeaSeed Foundation.
Entitled “Last Island”, this mural tackles climate change with our summers and winters inching closer, the four seasons melting together. Due to climate warming, to which we are undoubtedly contributing, polar icecaps and glaciers are shrinking. The Arctic is bound to set yet another summer melt record this year. An iceberg shouldn’t have to drift past a North Sea beach, for us to realise just how close our relationship to the Arctic and Antarctic is. This mural depicts the postapocalyptic scenario of the last iceberg.
About The Artist
Based in Solothurn, Switzerland, with Turkish roots, the artist is part of the photorealistic scene. He mostly paints using acrylic rollers with the help of brushes. Onur grew up in Zuchwil in Switzerland’s Solothurn canton. After leaving school he completed training as a painter, followed by an apprenticeship as a theatre painter in Solothurn. Onur then trained as a graphic artist at the advertising agency in Basel, going on to work in the profession for a year in Bern. In 2007 and 2008, he returned to the theatre, this time in Lucerne. Since 2008 he has worked as an independent painter and muralist.
About Sea Walls
Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans is PangeaSeed’s groundbreaking public art project that brings the oceans into the streets around the world.
The project involves some of today’s most renowned contemporary artists to create large-scale public murals that address pressing environmental issues the oceans are facing by forging a synthesis between public art, nature, and society. Sea Walls aims to engage with the local community to foster a sense of pride and ownership for the murals, and above all, for the health of their local marine ecosystems.
About PangeaSeed Foundation
PangeaSeed Foundation’s mission is to harness the power of art, science, and creativity to generate awareness and stimulate dialogue to inspire and affect positive change surrounding global ocean environmental issues. PangeaSeed Foundation aims to unify and connect individuals around the world, opening a dialog to share ideas and develop a better understanding of our connection with the oceans. PangeaSeed Foundation believes that art, design and new media can transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, inspiring positive global change. PangeaSeed collaborates with today’s most influential creative minds to help give the oceans the voice they so desperately need.
Sami Wakim is the founder editor of Street Art United States where this article was first published.
Onur: web | facebook | instagram
PangeaSeeds Foundation: web | facebook | instagram
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