A giant mural featuring the climate activist Greta Thunberg has appeared in Bristol. On the side of the Tobacco Factory in Bedminster, it has been painted by local street artist Jody.
The wall is a popular one. A prime location which features prominently in the popular Upfest street art festival. That event isn’t happening this year. It’s taking a hiatus after running for 10 years in a row. This year, instead of a full scale festival the team behind Upfest are producing a series of individual murals as part of a series called the ‘Upfest Summer Editions‘.
Jody’s choice of portraying Greta Thunberg captures a sentiment. The climate activist, still only sixteen, has transformed the debate around climate change. From Sweden originally she has spoke to the United Nations and was courted by British parliamentarians. Her message is that urgent action needs to be taken now in order to safeguard the planet for the future.
Well known for his work around Bristol, Jody is a popular and regular contributor to Upfest. Rooted in the graffiti and street art history of the city, the mural represents his biggest wall painted to date. He decided to depict Greta to honour her ongoing work raising awareness of the global climate crisis.
Showing a giant Greta standing half in, half out of the ocean. She stares intently straight ahead. Seemingly unconcerned about the fact that she is half submerged. She stands wearing her identifiable rain mac with long braids hanging down. Around her swims a polar bear whilst on the surface icebergs surround her. Above, menacing skies lurk.
Painted in as environmentally conscious way as possible. Jody says that around 65-70% of the wall was painted with the use of an electric spray gun powered by solar cells from the Tobacco Factory. Only 25 actual traditional spray cans were actually used in its creation. The attempt to create the mural in an environmentally sustainable way was he says “a big consideration considering the theme of the wall.”
The mural of Greta Thunberg can be found on North Street in Bristol on the side of the Tobacco Factory. It was visited and photographed by Inspiring city on 17 June 2019.
