Murals brighten up Dubai Metro pillars
MURALS BY WORLD-RENOWNED ARTISTS TAKE SHAIKH ZAYED ROAD COMMUTERS INTO AN IMAGINARY WORLD
Do you want to get on a Dubai Metro ride through a galaxy of stars or take a swing of imagination amid a sea of clouds? Or are you more interested in joining an astronaut to climb up a ladder into the sky?
A series of murals on the Dubai Metro line along Shaikh Zayed Road will let your imagination take flight.
Depicting the spirit of innovation and freedom of thought, the murals are part of an initiative that aims to transform Dubai into an open-air museum, celebrate art, creativity and aesthetic excellence.
Under the project, three international artists, Peruvian Daniel Cortez and Dominicanborn Miami-based artist ‘Evoca1’ also known as Elio Mercado and Ukrainian Yevgen Trofymchuk have painted murals on the pillars of the Dubai Metro on Shaikh Zayed Road between the Dubai International Financial Centre and Emirates Towers stations.
According to Nehal Badri, Director of Brand Dubai, which is carrying out the project in cooperation with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the themes of the murals have been chosen to inspire creativity and spread happiness while also reflecting Dubai’s character, vision and future aspirations.
One of the artworks shows an astronaut hanging from the strings attached to the planets, ready to land back on earth. The planets also seem like a hot-air balloon. The mural is an obvious reflection of the UAE’s declared ambition of landing on Mars.
Another pillar has a man travelling on a hot-air balloon made of flowers, with the riders looking through a telescope into the horizon, reflecting UAE’s eye on the future.
Completed on November 10, the 10 murals were painted in 13 days starting on October 28.
Speaking to Gulf News as he gave the finishing touches to his work, Peruvian artist Daniel Cortez said that the murals depict creative thinking and imagination. Referring to a mural of a child playing on a swing that is attached to a plume of clouds high in the sky, Cortez said: “This is an iconic image of freedom of thought.” Pointing at another mural which shows an electric bulb suspended from a wire half filled with water and fish swimming inside, he said: “It depicts the environmental impact of our actions.”
From the skies the mural moves to the water world where dolphins are flying with birds, while aquatic organisms like jellyfish swim among the stars.
As part of the Dubai Street Museum initiative that aims to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the city, the project will bring art closer to the community.
“Murals envisioned through the project will add further elegance to the image of the city. Eventually, it will bring an added value to the community, and boost the happiness of Dubai residents and visitors. Dubai Metro will be a key element in delivering the project as it has a symbolic reference to the advancement of Dubai,” said Moaza Al Merri, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication at RTA.