Australian artist Fintan Magee was recently in Italy in order to take part of this years Urban Vision festival in Acquapendente, Italy.
Titled ‘Drowning While Standing’ , the new mural depicts a young man drowning while standing. His face is incased in plastic as rising water levels engulf his face, suffocate his voice and render him mute and breathless. The new mural is set according to Fintan in the context of the US pulling out of the Paris agreement.
As explained by the artist, in 2016 a report released at the UN climate change conference in Marrakech stated that young people aged 18-25 say they are more concerned about climate change than the economy, terrorism, unemployment or any other issue.
As rising sea levels, increased aridity and coral bleaching become a visible global reality it’s easy for young voters to feel ignored by politicians and policy makers who continually focus on the needs of baby boomers and older voters. As inaction on climate change continues many young people are being locked out of stable employment and housing while being forced to deal with rising education costs and rising sea levels.
Many young people now feel unheard, disconnected from politics, and increasingly cynical about the future of the planet. Their voice has been drowning.
Last image by Matteo Bidini, otherwise by the artist and the festival.
Author: Fran
Founder and editor of Urbanite. Street Art lover who after the finishing her MA thesis on the Mexican and Norwegian muralist movement in the 1920-50s, developed a fascination for street art and graffiti that eventually led to collaborations with different art blogs, including the creation of this one.
