Bridge to Somewhere

This is the second mural project by the Second Course Students. It was completed at the end of September 2021 in Chinbrook Meadows. The participatory process involved over 30 local residents and 12 students. After our fare share of struggle, we came up with a quirky and original concept: to paint a bridge inside a tunnel.

This idea of a bridge inside a tunnel adapted really well to the curves of the structure. Our painted arches resonated with the curves on both entrances and the top curves separated the painted surfaces from an area we left unpainted after consultation with local residents. We were helped in the painting process by local residents as well as prospectus students who were invited so we could see how they performed during the physically demanding sessions.

After the long shift, you can see how energised the students were. By the time this photo was taken, we had spent 2 weeks painting with no less that 7 painters at any one day. By the time we finished, the painting was layered and rich in color saturation.

The arches also helped provide some rhythm as pedestrians walk along the tunnel, dividing the long length of it to make it more entertaining. This is something we picked up during the participatory process. Someone said: it would be good to get a sense of progress or like arriving to stations before you get to the final destination.

The mural integrates itself to the landscape while adding something unusual.