In This Post:
– Rising Blue
– Who is Giuseppe Percivati?
– I AM Karachi
– International Public Art Festival
Karachi has become home to what is believed to be the world’s tallest mural by a single artist.
The stunning 286-foot tall public art installation named ‘Rising Blue’ has been painted by renowned Italian artist Giuseppe Percivati, more commonly known as Pepe Gaka. The iconic mural illustrates the scenic coastline of this magnificent city with special emphasis on the endangered mangroves in Pakistan. It has been painted on the sky-high Centrepoint Tower on Shaheed-e-Millat Expressway near KPT Interchange in Karachi.
Rising Blue is a part of the upcoming International Public Art Festival (IPAF), which is an initiative of I AM Karachi (IAK) – a city-wide movement by that aims to improve the public image of the City of Lights by rebuilding its social and cultural fabric. Percivati’s work is also being seen as a good example of public-private partnership for the creation of public art, as it was completed in collaboration with the Consulate General of Italy, TPL Corp and Berger Paints.
Let’s take an in-depth look at Rising Blue, which is claimed to be the world’s tallest mural by a single artist.
Rising Blue
The subject of Rising Blue revolves around the conservation and protection of depleting mangrove forests in the coastal areas of Sindh, which have resulted in seawater intruding into the Indus delta.
Although the magnificent coastline and the blue ocean represent Karachi, the mural also draws attention towards the rising sea levels, a direct result of climate change that continues to threaten our environment and ecosystem.
According to IPAF chairman Jameel Yusuf, Rising Blue depicts “the awakening of the conscience of climate change.”
Apart from the sea and the mangroves, the giant mural also features an eagle, a bird of prey that’s widely found in Karachi, especially around the mangrove forests. Furthermore, the top part of Rising Blue on Centrepoint Tower carries a red dot, which is believed to symbolize the birth of modern art.
It took Percivati about 9 days to complete the tallest mural in Karachi.
“I first came in July to find the location, and we visited around five different sites, but as soon as I saw the Centrepoint building, I knew this was the perfect place,” said the artist as he shared his experiences with the local media outlets. “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 added.
The Italian muralist worked with the organizers of IPAF to bring this Rising Blue to life. Speaking to a leading English daily, Percivati said they had used high-quality paints to create this iconic mural on Centrepoint, Karachi. He believes the colours will last up to 20, even 25 years. After that, he said, the mural can be re-painted.
During the formal inauguration ceremony, Consul General of Italy in Karachi Anna Ruffino also praised the artist and the organizers of International Public Art Festival for striving to improve the image of this bustling metropolis through meaningful art.
“This mural is a message of peace and friendship,” Ruffino said during the inauguration ceremony of the impressive public art installation. “The subject is, in fact, the conservation of the mangroves forest in Pakistan, especially along the coast.”
Needless to say, being the tallest mural painted in Pakistan, Rising Blue has now become one of the top places to see in Karachi.
Giuseppe Percivati aka Pepe Gaka
Giuseppe Percivati is a renowned Italian artist who has drawn attention for his stunning murals in countries across the world such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Portugal and the Philippines, to name a few.
Moreover, Rising Blue is not Percivati’s first-ever work of art in the City of Lights.
In 2018, the artist had collaborated with I AM Karachi to paint a breathtaking mural on the building of General Shipping Agencies on Napier Mole Road in East Wharf, as part of Karachi Street Art Festival. Before that, he had painted a mural for the 2017 Karachi Biennale.
I AM Karachi
I AM Karachi is a citywide campaign headed by the civil society to restore the image of Karachi as a peaceful city through various social and cultural activities revolving around art, dialogue, theatre, culture, heritage preservation, literature, music and sports, among others. The movement brings together likeminded individuals from different civil societies by providing them with a common platform to engage in a positive exchange of ideas.
Furthermore, it aims to reclaim the public spaces in Karachi and revive the existing ones for greater inclusion. I AM Karachi also strives to preserve the cultural heritage of this diverse city and create new, safe public spaces for the citizens.
Some of the most notable initiatives launched by I AM Karachi include:
- The International Public Art Festival
- IAK Talks
- I AM Karachi Dialogues
- The Music Mentorship Program
- The Wall of Peace
- IAK Sports
- Munaqqash
- IAK Clean Drive
As of right now, I AM Karachi has completed over 160 initiatives, reclaimed 3,500 walls and boasts about 9000 registered volunteers.
I AM Karachi Address: Plot 33/1, main Korangi Industrial Road, Sector 15, Korangi, Karachi
Contact Number: 02135151141
International Public Art Festival 2020
The International Public Art Festival is one of the most renowned and celebrated initiatives undertaken by IAK. Promising to be the first-of-its-kind public art intervention in Pakistan, this festival invites scores of local and international artists to create thought-provoking, permanent art installations in unused public space with an aim to spread awareness and a message of unity transcending above the class barriers.
Rising Blue, claimed to be the world’s tallest mural by a single artist, is also a part of this festival.
The International Public Art Festival 2020 will be held from February 7 to February 13 at the NED University of Engineering and Technology in Karachi.
So, what are your thoughts on the Rising Blue mural in Karachi? You can share your comments and queries with us on blog@zameen.com.
Meanwhile, if you are visiting Karachi and are looking for places to visit, don’t forget to check out Winterland at PAF Museum and Bahria Adventure Land theme park in Bahria Town Karachi. However, if you are only in the city for a very short time, here are some of the most prominent tourist attractions in Karachi that you can visit within 24 hours.
To learn more about such events and art exhibitions in Karachi, stay connected to Zameen Blog – the leading lifestyle blog in Pakistan. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest updates about construction and real estate trends in Pakistan.
