Having a colorful site attracting young people will make them more active and interested in arts, sports and extracurricular activities developing their creativity and independent views.
The location importance
AkzoNobel and MasterPeace Tunisia choose to color a wall alongside the coastline of Monastir. Due to its strategic position, the mural will be seen by the tourists and the locals alike. It is a place where a number of sports and cultural events are organized for the local students, with the more colorful wall making the area more lively, positive and inspiring. Monastir is a vibrant town located on the coast, thus attracting a big number of tourists every year. The youth of the city are engaged in various cultural and artistic activities developing their creativity and imagination. The objective was to create a welcoming and inspiring site for them to perform, gather and exchange ideas. It is a place where the young talents of Monastir gather to show their work and develop their talent. The wall size is 4m high and 1.7km long encompassing a huge area from the coastline.
A famous street art collateral in Tunisia aiming to promote art as a tool of communication and attracting many young people. With the design they wanted to represent the city and its heritage. They deemed that the coast and the maritime landscape and nature are pivotal to Monastir and its outlook. Due to the coastline the city welcomes tourists from all over the world thus making tourism a main source of income and development for the local people. The idea of the design with the skeleton fish transformed to give life to a new mermaid is a reference to the rebirth of the city of Monastir that witnessed a boom in tourism and new a outlook.
Mass participation in the event
Around 700 people attended and participated in the event – the locals and guests of the city alike. Together, they helped to color the mural and put the final touches to it. They also had a very dynamic day with iron balls and arc, theater performances, singing and dancing competitions, beach games and a basketball tournament. When the sunset came, the children attended a workshop of astronomy. During the day, the martial arts groups showed their skills and promoted their sport among the youth.
The location of the wall makes it visible for both locals and tourists. It is intended to be a gathering site and a venue for sports, cultural and artistic events. We believe that having a colourful site attracting young people will make them more active and interested in arts, sports and extra-curricular activities developing their creativity and independent views.
Around 4 AkzoNobel employees joined the launch of the event, expressing their pride on the project and the admiration to the chosen location as the beach wall would draw attraction to the mural locally and internationally.
Personal perspective
“We are proud to be working on the largest painted wall in North Africa and one of the longest coastline walls in all of Africa. It is one of the biggest projects in our careers so far, and it is global.
That is what wowed us, the fact that we can reach out to the world through a wall in Monastir. We are part of a global movement of artists and other creative minds around the world that are changing communities one brush at a time.”
Community perspective
“The most amazing thing has also happened. Some young people have created their own group and they talk to the public about the project, the wall and its importance. They are staging events and activities to make the public even more engaged.”
BrotherHood Art, Tunisia
Find out more about Astral in Tunisia here.
