Converse has collaborated on a clever new mural absorbs air pollutants. Images supplied.
Converse has collaborated with local All Star members and Kiwi urban art legends, Janine and Charles Williams of internationally renowned crew The Most Dedicated (TMD) on a clever new mural in Auckland. It’s one of several murals around the world that has been created by Converse’s community of creatives using a photocatalytic paint by Graphenstone, which uses sunlight to reduce noxious air pollutants, purifying the surrounding air. Converse launched the exciting public art campaign in August 2020, dubbing it “Converse City Forests” and the project is a celebration of creating together for social progress.
The Most Dedicated were chosen to concept and paint a mural with a twist on Karaka Street in Auckland’s city centre, which rises three stories high and covers a section of wall measuring 195 square metres. The unique photocatalytic paint utilised for the mural absorbs air pollutants as a plant would and provides the equivalent of planting 182 trees. Counting all the murals created globally to date means Converse’s efforts is the equivalent of planting 9,036 trees so far.
Auckland’s mural is named ‘Te Karanga’ or ‘The Call’, and was was inspired by the legend of Hape. It’s about connecting to your essence and staying true to yourself, embodying your roots and breaking down barriers. Like the story of an eponymous Māori ancestor Hape, who connected to the space where the mural is located, he too overcame his own physical and emotional challenges.
“We take these indigenous stories of persistence and identity as tāonga or precious gifts of knowledge that we too have the ability to impact the future in a positive way we remember that our story, our lives are as important as the next and to value life collectively,” says Charles and Janine Williams.
The creative duo are known for their thought-provoking art installations around urban Aotearoa. The Most Dedicated believe in inspiring Kiwis to tell the stories of their ancestors and heritage through art and creativity in a modern way.
The vibrant mural was also designed in collaboration with three young members of the Auckland-based All Star community, as Converse also wanted to provide young artists with an opportunity to get involved with a creative project that fuses innovative technology with the skill and experience of established muralists.
A limited-edition t-shirt designed by Janine and Charles is available to purchase online as part of the campaign with 100% of proceeds being donated to I Have A Dream charitable trust, to continue their invaluable work for young people in New Zealand.
Converse sees the murals as a public call for progress through the vision of local creatives, each one is in a highly visible area of each city and are bringing new meaning to public art to create a more sustainable future.