As a place that once had a reputation for lacking in cultural offerings, Dubai is upping its art game with a creative project that is transforming its public transport system into an open-air mural.
An artist paints on the support columns of the Metro network in Dubai on November 5, 2018. Photo by: KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images
The Dubai Metro has towered above the emirate’s roads since 2009, and now the huge supporting concrete pillars that hold it up are part-way through a makeover by two international artists as part of The Dubai Metro Murals Project.
At more than 7m high with a diameter of around 2.5 metres each, the support columns stretching the 1km distance between two of the city’s busiest metro stops – Dubai Financial District and Emirates Towers – will soon serve as outdoor murals, open to visitors 24 hours a day. A partnership between the Dubai Government and the city’s roads and transport authority (RTA), the idea is part of a series of projects intent on beautifying the emirate.
Known for his large-scale portrait murals, Dominican artist Elio Mercado is one of the artists working on the pillars. No stranger to the United Arab Emirates, the Miami-based muralist painted huge wall canvases in neighbouring Abu Dhabi two years ago. During his visit to Dubai, the artist, who goes by the name Evoca1, took some time out to visit his former paintings, posting a picture on his Instagram with the caption: ‘Tbt. Visiting some old work’. Muralist Daniel Cortez from Peru, who makes waves with his innovative use of colour, is the other artist working on the metro project.
An artist paints on the support columns of the Metro network in Dubai on November 5, 2018. Photo by: KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images
Sneak peeks at the art before its completion suggest that the murals will celebrate the city’s natural resources, with one pillar draped in bright pink jellyfish and another depicting a child perched on a wooden swing above a crystal-blue ocean. Elsewhere, colourful astronauts were spotted on pillars, perhaps a nod to the country’s increasing involvement in space travel.
Mattar Al Tayer, Head of the RTA, explained the idea behind the initiative saying, ‘We are seeking to implement a series of projects like this that will make public spaces more appealing and create a distinct visual identity that fosters a sense of belonging and pride within the community’.
A similar project was announced in late November. Jumeirah Project will celebrate the spirit of one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods by inviting 30 international and local artists to select 30 locations in Jumeirah to paint 30 murals that show links between Dubai’s past and present.
With similar treatment planned for many of the city’s bridges, roads, bus stops and walking paths, your next visit to Dubai might be a lot more colourfully cultural than you expected.
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