For the third consecutive year, Let’s Colour has supported the Baz-Art NGO on the venture to transform the community of Salt River, Cape Town, into a visual wonderland. Through the International Public Art Festival (IPAF), this cooperation transformed more than walls. It also added colors to the lives of the residents, restored the historical roots of this suburb and opened new business opportunities.
Expressing common values through street art
The IPAF is a mural art project organized by Baz-Art, a non-profit organization dedicated to using the power of art for the benefit of the people. Since 2017, this festival has been gathering local and international volunteering artists to create public murals in Salt River, a charming suburb of Cape Town.
Besides exhibiting exceptional street art talents, the IPAF also illustrates how public art can express community values and enhance the local community. The massive art creations have meaningful and deep narratives that focus on the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability.
100% Sustainable
The IPAF selected artists from a diverse group of local and international artists, with various levels of experience and diverse backgrounds, resulting in rich and diverse murals.
Every year the artists are presented with a subject, and the theme of the IPAF 2021 has been 100% Sustainable, which was an inspiration for the artists to create 21 murals over 5 days. The goal was to examine how can we answer the needs of today without compromising the world our future generations will inherit.
To support the transformation and the topic that is a natural fit for Let’s Colour, we donated 1,000 liters of Dulux paint.
The human chain across the world
This year’s IPAF was also a part of “Beyond Walls”, an international project of the renowned Swiss-French artist Saype, who brought this project to South Africa. Saype creates monumental artworks of interlocking hands on the ground, with the aim to create the biggest human chain in the world.
This artwork sheds the light on common bonds we share as humans, symbolizing togetherness and unity in the increasingly polarized world. Salt River was the ninth step of the “Beyond Walls” project, following similar artworks in Istanbul, Paris, Andorra, Geneva, Berlin, Ouagadougou, Yamoussoukro, and Turin.
Transforming more than walls
Aside from celebrating public spaces in Salt River, the IPAF is providing opportunities for local artists, educating youth through art, and supporting local businesses by creating job opportunities and attracting tourists.
“The art makes Salt River look and feel positive. It keeps the area alive and the community together. Everyone enjoys the art on the walls, because it makes the area more interesting.”, one of the local residents said. So, not only does the festival enhance the appearance of the neighborhood, but it also increases the sense of belonging and togetherness among its residents.
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