Reclaim the Space – a mural for our times
Us Here Now exhibition was only ever temporary. The buzz had been so great local people got in touch with us & the surrounding businesses […]
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Reclaim The Space
Reclaim the Space is an amazing piece of street art by UK based international artist Helen Bur. Capturing the heart & soul of the brilliant community in St Mellons, it features over 50 local people having a mass “lie-in” on the grass in the fields behind Tesco in the summer of 2023. Painted on a 24 meter long wall in the civic space in St Mellons, the artwork shows people of all ages (and their dogs!) lying on the grass in the sunshine, chucking some shapes… having a cwtch and reclaiming their local natural and urban space.
Inspired by the incredible reaction to Us Here Now (our previous photography project in the same space, made with artist Jon Pountney) and how gutted people were that this project was only temporary, Common Wealth applied for funding from Arts Council Wales to bring a more permanent artwork here. We worked with our Sounding Board to find the right artist to commission and to collaborate with our local community. We are all delighted by Helen’s response and the reaction to her work – it’s truly inspiring.
Reclaim the Space is dedicated to the beautiful Julie George, our dancehall queen.
Photos
Credits
Artwork by Helen Bur
Photographs by Jon Pountney
Produced by the Common Wealth team: Camilla Brueton, Chantal Williams and Rhiannon White
Thank you to everyone who took part in the photoshoot!
Reclaim the Space had been funded by Arts Council Wales, Paul Hamlyn, donations from local people and supported by Tesco St Mellons.
