Schoolboy’s climate mural wins UK award
ACITY teenager who designed a powerful climate change mural has won a national art competition. Colin Li’s design, which highlights local species that are at risk, has now been painted near the Scottish Exhibition Centre, where world leaders meet next week for COP26.
Colin, 14, who is a pupil at St Mungo’s Academy in the East
End, said: “Climate change as an issue is so important to me because if you don’t take care of our world, it won’t be a better place for all of us.
“It is really important that the mural art conveys messages about the climate crisis and species loss for the public to see so they know what is really happening to the world now, which will make them think about it.”
He added: “It is vital that young people’s voices are heard so others can listen to them and make changes.”
Colin’s winning design, entitled Our Climate is Changing, shows raging bushfires, a dragonfly, bluebells pressurised by invasive species and a basking
shark at risk from illegal hunting and boat strikes
It was one of seven selected to be painted by professional street artists in UK towns and cities as part of the Grantham Climate Art Prize 2021.
The prize is organised by the Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London in partnership with pioneering energy company Octopus Energy and young campaigners UK Youth for Nature (UKY4N).
Colin’s design was painted at the SWG3 railway arches beside the Clydeside Expressway by professional mural artists Ciaran
Globel and Conzo Throb.
Ciaran said: “Work on the Grantham Climate Art Prize in the creation of this mural was a great way to highlight issues around climate change in a new and unconventional way.
“Sometimes the data that proves the realities of climate change can be overwhelming for people to process, so having the ability to communicate the facts in a bold and visual manner can help.
“Having young people’s voices heard on this issue is of vital importance.”
He added: “The young people of today are the adults of tomorrow and they have the foresight to see they are inheriting a planet that is becoming increasingly dangerous to the health and wellbeing of all species.
“The climate crisis still isn’t being taken as seriously as it needs to be, so making bold statements is essential. Mural art sadly won’t save the planet on its own, but it can be used as an effective tool to quickly and effectively highlight the issues that are important.”
World leaders coming to Glasgow for COP26 will be shown pictures of the seven murals.
Other murals are located in Brighton, London, Leicester, Nottingham, Rochdale and Middleport.