The Power of Art
In 2017, Miyazaki Kensuke painted the mural of the mitten together with local people in Mariupol. He wanted to send a message of hope and peace to the world. Miyazaki says, “Each mural I left behind has its own subsequent story.” Here’s the story.
After the completion of the mural in Mariupol, Miyazaki said, “My art has the power to make people ‘super happy.’” This is the driving force behind the mural projects which he has been carrying out in different parts of the world.
On April 15, 2022, Miyazaki received an email with a photo from a friend he met in Mariupol. While Miyazaki was working on the mural, his friend visited the site many times and helped with the project.
But then, a war started in 2022 and Mariupol was one of the places which was badly affected. As the war escalated, Miyazaki’s friend decided to leave the city. But just before he left, he remembered the mural and took the trouble to go and take a photo in spite of the danger.
Miyazaki recounted: “As I thought about the difficult situations that he was facing, it brought tears to my eyes.” He added, “Unfortunately, the mural we painted in 2017 was damaged in an attack. It’s sad, but I was more worried about the people who lived near the mural and the children who painted it together with us.”
Miyazaki believes that the mural is a part of people’s lives. He said, “The completion of it is not the end, but rather the beginning. Even as an artist, you have no control over the fate of a mural afterwards. It is entrusted to the local people, and all you can do is quietly watch over its fate.”
Even so, Miyazaki believes in the power of art. He said, “Without a painting, a wall is just a wall. However, a painted wall is more than just a wall; it clearly shows the power of art. I hope that this wall in Ukraine will not just be a wall, but will last as a symbol of peace and recovery.”
In 2017, Miyazaki Kensuke painted the mural of the mitten together with local people in Mariupol. He wanted to send a message of hope and peace to the world. Miyazaki says, “Each mural I left behind has its own subsequent story.” Here’s the story.
After the completion of the mural in Mariupol, Miyazaki said, “My art has the power to make people ‘super happy.’” This is the driving force behind the mural projects which he has been carrying out in different parts of the world.
On April 15, 2022, Miyazaki received an email with a photo from a friend he met in Mariupol. While Miyazaki was working on the mural, his friend visited the site many times and helped with the project.
But then, a war started in 2022 and Mariupol was one of the places which was badly affected. As the war escalated, Miyazaki’s friend decided to leave the city. But just before he left, he remembered the mural and took the trouble to go and take a photo in spite of the danger.
Miyazaki recounted: “As I thought about the difficult situations that he was facing, it brought tears to my eyes.” He added, “Unfortunately, the mural we painted in 2017 was damaged in an attack. It’s sad, but I was more worried about the people who lived near the mural and the children who painted it together with us.”
Miyazaki believes that the mural is a part of people’s lives. He said, “The completion of it is not the end, but rather the beginning. Even as an artist, you have no control over the fate of a mural afterwards. It is entrusted to the local people, and all you can do is quietly watch over its fate.”
Even so, Miyazaki believes in the power of art. He said, “Without a painting, a wall is just a wall. However, a painted wall is more than just a wall; it clearly shows the power of art. I hope that this wall in Ukraine will not just be a wall, but will last as a symbol of peace and recovery.”