First mural to spread awareness on climate change created in Brussels

02 / 10 / 2021

By Marwa Nassar - -

Mother Nature mural in Brussels is the first of 50 murals due to be created around the globe as part of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030with an aim to spread awareness on climate change.

The eye-catching mural in Brussels kicks off a 10-year initiative led by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) with artists around the world to raise awareness of climate change and environmental destruction and inspire people to take action to heal the planet.

After decades of excessive extraction of natural resources and habitat, human actions threaten more species with global extinction now than ever before. Out of an estimated 8.1 million plant and animal species, 1 million are at risk of extinction – many within decades. The loss of biodiversity is compounded by the other planetary crises of climate change and pollution.

“This Ecosystem Restoration mural reminds us in the middle of Belgium’s capital city and the heart of Europe, of the crucial role of nature and the urgent need to conserve, restore and sustainably use nature and its components,” said Zakia Khattabi, Belgium’s Minister of Climate, Environment, Sustainable Development and Green Deal.

“This mural reminds us of the urgent need to conserve, restore and sustainably use nature,” said Zakia Khattabi, Belgium Minister.

The campaign is curated by Street Art for Mankind, a non-profit that uses art to promote human rights and social change. This approach is at the heart of the UN Decade’s appeal to people everywhere, including youth and urbanites, to build a #generationrestoration that can revive the planet’s critical ecosystems.

The 40-meter mural in Brussels, high above a fitness studio and a language school on the busy Avenue Louise, was painted by Lula Goce, a Spanish artist. Goce had to overcome a fear of heights to spend a week at the end of a telescopic lift arm spraying coloured paint onto the brown bricks.

The design was originally inspired by UN75, a global conversation initiated by the UN in 2020 for its 75th anniversary, where 1.5 million people spoke out about issues that mattered most to them. Protecting the environment came out as the top priority.

Goce says the mural is a metaphor of Mother Nature taking care of the environment and trying to preserve a space for all the animals in the herd. She says the lady is watching us, as we have the responsibility to protect it.

Goce, who grew up by the sea, said it was important for urban residents to recognize that they are part of nature to preserve the spaces for other animals and ourselves, for our kids, for the future.

As well as the restoration murals, Street Art for Mankind will work with artists to support the UN Decade by creating five major landmark initiatives. The details remain under wraps, except for one: the first landmark will be created in Greenland.

Streetart for Mankind’s co-founder Audrey Decker is already looking ahead to coming projects. She says, “The City of Brussels holds a central part in the European Union and its actions. It made a lot of sense for us to start our mural series here, in the heart of Brussels. Next stop, Houston, the energy capital of the world!”