KARACHI: The 286-foot-tall mural on the TPL Tower.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
KARACHI: The 286-foot-tall mural on the TPL Tower.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: A 286-foot-tall public art mural made by Italian artist Giuseppe Percivati called Rising Blue was unveiled at Centrepoint on Saturday evening.

It is part of the Internati­onal Public Art Festival (IPAF), an initiative of ‘I Am Karachi’, whose organisers claim that the mural is the world’s tallest.

Speaking on the occasion, Italian Consul-General Anna Ruffino said the talented artist had worked in Karachi before at IPAF and also worked in several other countries such as the US, Portugal, Australia and Japan. She said the mural was a message of peace and friendship, as well as a cry of alarm for the environment. The subject was the conservation of mangroves in Pakistan, especially along the coast of Sindh, which was why it was a great gift to Karachi, she added.

She thanked the artist and the event organisers for doing valuable work for the city.

Mr Percivati said the project took about nine days to paint but months for preparation. He first came in July to find a location and as soon as he saw the TPL Tower (Centrepoint), he said: “This is perfect place.” He thanked the people behind the project, especially Ambareen Thompson and Amin Hashwani, executive director and president of ‘I Am Karachi’, for lending their support to him. “Karachi is a beautiful city but has been neglected a bit. It’s called the City of Lights but sometimes it’s more like a city of dust. People of Karachi are beautiful. The city can be as beautiful as Milan, Rome or London,” he remarked.

Terming the mural an iconic example of public-private partnership, IPAF chairman Jameel Yusuf said the 286-foot-tall mural is the world’s tallest, tracing the stunning Karachi coastline. Describing the artwork’s symbolism, he told the audience that the mangroves supported Pakistan’s ecosystem as a breeding ground for marine life and birds.

According to him, the mural is artistic and abstract in a way as it not only suggests the height but also the rising ocean levels referring to climate change. It depicts the rise of a nation, of a voice, of the awakening of a conscience of climate change. It is also symbolic of us as a nation: how we keep rising despite our setbacks.

Karachi Port Trust Chairman Rear Admiral Jamil Akhtar said he was proud to be a part of the project in supporting ‘I Am Karachi’. He gave a piece of good news that they’re working on another ‘ambitious’ project and had given a kind of a blank cheque to the organisers for the project.

Ms Thompson said her team had been working for the past four years to change city’s narrative.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Counterterrorism plan
Updated 23 Nov, 2024

Counterterrorism plan

Lacunae in our counterterrorism efforts need to be plugged quickly.
Bullish stock market
23 Nov, 2024

Bullish stock market

NORMALLY, stock markets rise gradually. In recent months, however, Pakistan’s stock market has soared to one ...
Political misstep
23 Nov, 2024

Political misstep

FORMER first lady Bushra Bibi’s video address to PTI followers has triggered a firestorm. Her assertion implying...
Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

An audit of polio funds at federal and provincial levels is sorely needed, with obstacles hindering eradication efforts targeted.
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...