Imagine being in San Francisco on a classic autumn day and, as you walk through the streets of the city, you come across a mega mural with a giant Greta Thunberg drawing.
Definitely an unusual situation but one that makes you talk, and a lot.
A few days ago, the young Swedish activist nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, fixed the pedestrians who travel Mason Steet near Union Square.
This is because the Argentine artist Andrés Iglesias, known as cobre and famous for his hyperrealistic portraits, has created a huge mural in the heart of the American city.
The work was unveiled after 10 days of work with the appearance of the signature of the author’s stage name. The idea for this environmental-themed initiative is from the NGO One atmosphere, which hired the artist after seeing a previous mural depicting the deceased actor Robin Williams. Cobre was also helped to obtain the various permits to make it and to cover the cost of the paint.
The reason why Greta Thunberg was chosen is based on the activist movement that has developed over the last year. Thanks to her and her perseverance, thousands of young people have sided with the cause, striking and demonstrating against all those who impact primarily on global pollution, on climate change and, if we want to put it bluntly, on the self-destruction of the planet.
The mural aims to pay homage to Greta but at the same time to remind people that the problem of climate change is true and current and that it also affects us closely.
The feedback from people who have seen it live or through the media has been so positive that the photos taken at the mural have been shared by the local and global media. The intention was precisely this, to spread the message more and more widely and to raise awareness, involve and inform as many people as possible.
This is not the first time that Greta Thunberg has been represented on murals. It has already happened in Istanbul, in the Kadikoy district, where a portrait was made by Portuguese artists Dheo and Pariz One. In addition, a work about the activist also appeared in Bristol. This is proof of how art is able to communicate positive messages and raise people’s awareness of the cause.
Text by Anna Cardaci
