Culture for a Changing City
A giant mural to welcome back the communities of East London after lockdown
The Culture for a Changing City Community Mural was our second collaborative public artwork with Paint the Change, to welcome people back and celebrate the local area as we came out of lockdown. Working with long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, this mural reflected on the people that make up Tower Hamlets, and captured their personal stories with portraits and artwork of cherished items. (21st Century) by Rich MixRich Mix
Working with Paint the Change, long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, Rich Mix's Culture For a Changing City mural reflects the people that make up Tower Hamlets, sharing their personal stories via portraits and artwork of cherished items.
Watch our five minute mini-doc to find out about the process and stories behind the latest super-sized mural to appear on the front of our building.
The Culture for a Changing City Community Mural was our second collaborative public artwork with Paint the Change, to welcome people back and celebrate the local area as we came out of lockdown. Working with long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, this mural reflected on the people that make up Tower Hamlets, and captured their personal stories with portraits and artwork of cherished items. (21st Century) by Nigel R GlasgowRich Mix
After our call-out for artwork that represented East Londoners, we were inundated with a fantastic array of photos, mementos and collages.
Award-winning street artist ATMA combined them to create one gigantic mural featuring over 100 pieces of artwork.
The Culture for a Changing City Community Mural was our second collaborative public artwork with Paint the Change, to welcome people back and celebrate the local area as we came out of lockdown. Working with long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, this mural reflected on the people that make up Tower Hamlets, and captured their personal stories with portraits and artwork of cherished items. (21st Century) by Nigel R GlasgowRich Mix
From the Hand of Fatima to playing cards, teapots, bagels, selfies, mehndi, BLM and Women’s Rights placards, the end result is a joyful and inspiring piece of public art, that anyone walking past Rich Mix can enjoy.
The Culture for a Changing City Community Mural was our second collaborative public artwork with Paint the Change, to welcome people back and celebrate the local area as we came out of lockdown. Working with long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, this mural reflected on the people that make up Tower Hamlets, and captured their personal stories with portraits and artwork of cherished items. (21st Century) by Nigel R GlasgowRich Mix
Let's hear from some of the mural participants about what their chosen objects mean to them...
Culture for a Changing City Community Mural by Mr GeeRich Mix
Mr Gee
“I’m reciting a poem on stage in front of a live crowd. Doing what I love to do and loving every minute of it!”
Culture for a Changing City Community Mural by Rich MixRich Mix
Jaskaran and Fahmida
"We’re living [our story] on the mural of Rich Mix - that is me and Fahm’s story. We go to places as this blonde South Asian woman and this non-binary Bengali British person. We take up space in this non-conventional way. We create waves."
The Uddin Family
Culture for a Changing City Community Mural by Suresh SinghRich Mix
Suresh Singh
“Mum was affectionate and warm. She was a large woman who was very cuddly and I would always be hugging her. As the youngest boy, I spent all my time with her. She washed my hair every morning in the kitchen and every evening in front of the fire."
Amani the Poet
Culture for a Changing City Community Mural by FahimaRich Mix
Fahima
“It represents me, my culture, my creativity. I have a big interest in textiles and you’ll see this kind of curling, flowery patterns on Bangladeshi clothes. I have a very nostalgic memory of my grandmother grinding the mehndi leaves and putting it on my hands.”
Vic Roberts
Culture for a Changing City Community Mural by Rosa DunnRich Mix
Rosa Dunn
"I grew up with the sounds of resistance and the fight for a better world playing on loop! Although I’m too young to have been at the Victoria Park concert in 1978 – I’ve grown up knowing the power of culture!"
Lemzi
The Culture for a Changing City Community Mural was our second collaborative public artwork with Paint the Change, to welcome people back and celebrate the local area as we came out of lockdown. Working with long-term partner Halima Khanom and local community groups, this mural reflected on the people that make up Tower Hamlets, and captured their personal stories with portraits and artwork of cherished items. (21st Century) by Nigel R GlasgowRich Mix
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Culture For A Changing City mural
Halima Khanom has over 10 years of experience and is interested in using heritage as a way of engaging socially isolated and marginalised groups with place, particularly their own locale.
Paint the Change is a global street art project for social justice. They believe that public art can play a powerful role in stimulating discussions around urgent social issues. A mural is not just a work of art: it becomes a social and digital event and a focus for dialogue and progress.
Photography by Nigel R Glasgow
#CultureForAChangingCityMural
