Street art murals make biodiversity visible

The project is backed by internationally renowned urban artists and biodiversity researchers. Together, they want to make the beauty and great importance of biodiversity visible and emotionally tangible in the centre of the city.

The association InUrFaCE e.V. ("Initiative of Urban Facades Creature Exposition") initiated the project by bringing together researchers from the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) and street artists. Various motifs were created in a workshop and will be realised at the two LIB sites in Bonn and Hamburg, helping to raise awareness of the issue of biodiversity and biodiversity loss. The project is sponsored by Union Investment and the Dr Hans Riegel Foundation. The facade was provided by Hans Pfau Nachlass Grundstücksverwaltung.

The Hamburg mural at Eimsbütteler Chaussee 79-81 shows a pair of birds framed by plants and the words MAGISTRA - an allusion to the Latin phrase "Natura est artis magistra" ("Nature is the teacher of art"). It emphasises that nature not only inspires art - it is just as worthy of protection as a work of art itself. The mural reminds us that species loss is not abstract, but happens right before our eyes if we just look.

A robin has been hovering over a building façade in Bonn city centre for a year now, while a symbolic blank space in the image allows for free interpretation. It could, for example, indicate extinction or the discovery of new species. At the UN campus in Bonn, oversized insects thematise the consequences of light pollution.

Dr France Gimnich, biodiversity researcher and co-initiator of the association InUrFaCE e.V.: "We are delighted to be able to design a mural at the second LIB location and hope to reach many people with it. We want to create a positive connection to nature, which is not only the basis of life for us all, but also evokes positive emotions and simply makes us happy!"

Prof Dr Marie Herberstein, Deputy Director of the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB) in Hamburg: "It is important to us to take our research to the streets and bring people back into contact with nature. We want to inspire and sensitise people to the diversity of species. Because it is the basis of our existence - and that is under threat."

Susanne Moisan, Culture and Project Manager: Urban Art Projects in Hamburg and coordinator of the project in Hamburg:
"Unlike art in a museum or gallery, murals in public spaces are accessible to everyone. Using flora and fauna-inspired façade designs to draw people's attention to the beauty of nature - on their way to work, school or home - I think that's great, because appreciation is the first step towards change."

Anna Taut, artist of the mural in Hamburg: "Nature plays a very important role in my art. It is not only the most important source of inspiration in terms of shapes and colours, but often also an independent existence that, like humans, is one of the parties in the conflict of the picture. I am very happy to have the opportunity to express my concern about the loss of biodiversity."

More information:

www.art-meets-biodiversity.com

www.leibniz-lib.de