24 November 2020. Waterfall City has partnered with local artist, Chris Valentine, to unveil a new mural, located on the Novartis staircase on Magwa Crescent.
The Novartis mural is the first of a series of art installations that will be placed around the City, in an effort to promote local art, while enhancing the City’s identity. Murals, in particular, are known to enhance the beauty of public spaces and are an integral part of a City’s vibrancy and aesthetic feel. Waterfall City understands that investing in public art is investing in community infrastructure and part of creating a sustainable, safe city that ties in with the surrounding environment.
“Our intention is to use art to activate the City and bring some colour to Waterfall. We want to continue to work with artists, like Chris, to not only promote local talent but also invest in public art in and around the City that is aligned to our commitment to sleek urban design and best in class sustainable practices. This commitment is exemplified by our walking and cycling pathways, 24-hour security and transit transport systems”, says Kyra Rautenbach, Sustainability Manager at Attacq.
Artist Chris Valentine was born and raised in Johannesburg and specialises in illustrations, murals and branding. His interest in illustration began at a young age with obsessive sketches of Asterix & Obelix, comic book superheroes and the making of action figures from paper, cardboard and whatever else he could find. He has previously done work inside the Cell C campus which is an Attacq asset, as well as other brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola and Apple.
“We wanted to do something with an African feel, but with a modern vibe. I have always loved Attacq’s branding, its vibrant colours and bold lines, the pattern on the mural is actually inspired by their logo. I really hope that the mural resonates with people and makes them feel something when they interact with it,” says Valentine.
One thing for sure, the mural is bound to stop you dead in your tracks when you first see it and is the perfect backdrop for your next impromptu photoshoot. While you are at it, why not enter the Waterfall City selfie competition, which will be running from now until 31 January 2021. Simply take a selfie anywhere in the City, tag the Waterfall Instagram page and stand a chance to win a R500 voucher!