The world-renowned team of Spanish artists Boa Mistura is this week creating a reminder of how important healthy oceans are to our wellbeing, by creating a huge mural in Vilnius, Lithuania. Work began this week on the 300 square metre fresco, Heartbeat of the Ocean, which will soon adorn the entire wall of a nine-storey apartment building at Sausio 13-osios st. 7, near Vilnius’s famed TV tower. The mural intends to inspire action to reverse deterioration of the ocean – and negative impacts on the climate.
Fish and other ocean creatures are the heroes in the painting, commissioned by Our Fish, a campaign working to end overfishing and restore a healthy ocean ecosystem. The mural aims to invite Vilnius’ residents, guests and decision-makers to pay more attention to legal protection of the oceans and other water bodies.
“We chose Vilnius for the Heartbeat of the Ocean mural, as it is the home city of the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, Virginijus Sinkevičius. His mission to rebuild healthy fish populations and thriving ecosystems will not only ensure the oceans’ abilities to continue supporting life on the planet by providing all of us with oxygen and food – it will also contribute to sustaining the oceans’ protective powers against the worst effects of climate change”, Rebecca Hubbard, Our Fish Program Director, says.
According to Hubbard, the European Commission is currently preparing an action plan to conserve fishery resources and protect marine ecosystems. “It is crucial for this plan to set out a pathway for reducing the devastating impact of overfishing on marine life and for bolstering the ocean’s capacity to store carbon. This pathway should outline a transition from destructive bottom trawling towards sustainable fisheries that will also benefit the marine environment and support the livelihoods of our coastal communities”, adds Hubbard.
The mural will be painted by four members of the Boa Mistura team. These artists’ works, mostly huge, coloured paintings on buildings or streets, are visible in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Germany, France, USA, Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, South Africa, China, and in other countries.
The Boa Mistura team start work: Photo: Our Fish/Dalius Pacevičius
“This mural in Vilnius is a new symbol representing awareness and care of the ocean. We have created a heart made of different marine species. It reminds us that every heartbeat of the planet comes from the bottom of the sea, and protecting and caring for marine biodiversity is of vital importance,“ Boa Mistura team members say.
The slogan “Save the ocean to save the climate” will appear on the bottom of the mural. The nine-storey building was chosen for its strategic location providing great visibility for a large flow of residents and tourists. It’s on a lively avenue, next to the headquarters of the National Social Insurance, large supermarkets, and a polyclinic. The Boa Mistura team will complete their work in the next two weeks.
Stay tuned for updates!
The Our Fish Team