Christchurch, also known as the Garden City, is a beautiful city located in the South Island of New Zealand. After the city underwent major earthquakes most notably in 2010 and 2011, many parts were left in ruins.
But amid all this turmoil, the city persisted. In the end the earthquakes proved to be quite a blessing in disguise, because it gave room for regrowth and new beginnings, one of them being the prominence of street art.
Today, Christchurch has more major street art murals than any other place in the Southern hemisphere! The murals were painted both by local and international artists which thus contributes to their diversity.
Here are my 6 favourite street art murals in no particular order. Be prepared for the awesomeness that awaits!
1. The Ballerina
Source: www.watchthisspace.org.nz
My all-time favourite – and it needs no justification. This beautiful mural is the artwork of Owen Dippie (https://www.owendippie.com/). He skillfully depicts a ballerina in all her elegance, capturing the hearts of many.
2. If the ice melts, the penguins will too
Source: www.jellyjourneys.com/
Look at the sheer number of penguins here! This whimsical mural was created by Andrew J Steel and D Side. It was commissioned to celebrate Christchurch as a gateway to Antarctica. Cute it may be, it still conveys a very important message about global warming.
3. She came from the stars
Source: www.findchch.com
This magical-looking mural was painted by Vexta in honour of her grandmother. She describes her grandmother as “a beautiful and strong woman who taught me to never stop learning and who was always there supporting me in my arts practice.”
4. Concrete Propositions
Source: www.watchthisspace.org.nz
Simple yet impressive, the wall was decorated in this aesthetic array of colours by Ash Keating who used various objects such as fire extinguishers, weed sprayers, and buckets to create the unique pattern. A perfect backdrop for those #OOTD shots!
5. Birds vs Bunnies
Source: www.watchthisspace.org.nz/
Flox is the artist behind this intricate mural of ferns, flowers and native birds. This mural illustrates, literally, how rabbits are ruining the natural wildlife and ecosystems in New Zealand, especially in the South Island.
6. Unnamed
Source: www.christchurchnz.com
Mouth, mouth, mouth. Or is it teeth, teeth, teeth? Anyhow, they are both the tools to enjoying everyone’s favourite pastime. So how could one not love this?! This mural was painted by Tilt.
So there you have it, piefaces! If you are thirsting for fresh street art, simply head down to Christchurch, NZ! 😉
