Converse has put its latest global initiative into action, creating a series of murals that actually benefit the planet.
The Converse City Forests project sees the footwear brand partner with local artists in 13 cities around the world to create beautiful public murals with photocatalytic paint. Using sunlight, noxious air pollutants are broken down by the photocatalytic paint and neutralized. In effect, the murals become active air-purifying surfaces that also add colour and liveliness to the community.
“Companies are working slower, and for the time being everything has slowed down. At Converse, we saw this as an opportunity to speak up and help produce fresh air through painting murals. Furthermore, we felt it was a good way to reunite communities as they return to normal life after such a long period of isolation,” explained Converse on how the current COVID-19 pandemic influenced their decision to begin the project.
The first of the murals, by artists TRK and Calligrapher Sorravis, is located in Bangkok, Thailand and features outstretched hands which symbolize unity. TRK said, “I don’t expect people will stop fighting just by seeing my work, but at least I can raise awareness to all the lovely things that can happen if we’re united.” The mural is the equivalent of planting 150 trees or roughly 4 soccer fields of trees.
Painted by artists Dawid Ryski and Maciek Polak, the second mural is in Warsaw, Poland and features a smiling floral design on a futuristic urban backdrop with the central message ‘Create Together For Tomorrow’. The large mural is equivalent to the planting of 780 trees.
The remaining 11 murals will be appearing soon in the following cities; Sydney, Jakarta, Manila, Sao Paulo, Belgrade, Lima, Santiago, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Bogota and Panama City.
All images in this article are courtesy of Converse.
