Stay at Home Mural Festival for Our Planet

Creating this mural for the Stay at Home Mural Festival for Our Planet organized by Pangaseed and Seawalls has been a very rewarding and reflective experience.

- - - - - - - 

In this surreal and difficult time, I have found it hard to take in and process everything that is happening in the world. 

I consider myself to be privileged to be able to isolate in the safety of my home, while receiving financial support from the government. My heart goes out to everyone - especially to those who have lost loved ones, to refugees, to people in impoverished places, to high risk populations, to those in strict confinement, to those working the front lines...I could go on and on.

Despite my place of privilege, I have still found this period challenging. I feel the weight of living in the city in Canada that has been hit the hardest. I have felt the mental impacts of isolation. I worry for my loved ones and the lasting negative impact this will have on the world. 

At the same time, I feel that this time of reflection has allowed me to better understand myself - and I think that the same is happening globally. We have been able to see clearly the negative impact humans are having on our planet, especially in terms of pollution and endangered animals. I have seen so many positive changes already: people reaching out to help others, people returning to the simple important things, underpaid workers receiving higher wages, people realizing the importance of creatives, people fighting for more equality... 

Two examples of this positive change inspired my mural: 

Firstly, the Chinese government was prompted to take more action to protect pangolins, one of the most heavily trafficked animals in the world, after a study suggested that they may have transmitted the disease. 

Read more here: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/18/covid-19-a-blessing-for-pangolins

Secondly, in Montreal shortly after we started to be affected by Covid, I started to see rainbows everywhere. From large buildings being lit up to children posting small artworks in their windows. This warmed my heart to see people spreading this symbol of love and hope. It reminded me in a time of feeling hopeless, that individuals can always make a difference and together we can create powerful change.

I hope that we can all come out of this stronger, more connected and mindful. I hope that we will take more action to save our planet. I hope in the long run the world will change for the better. 

Pangaseed: https://www.pangeaseed.foundation/