Toronto Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Ward 21 Scarborough Centre) was joined by Peter Feldmann, Mayor of Frankfurt, German artist Justus Becker and representatives of the Toronto Parking Authority and Goethe-Institut today to officially unveil a large wall mural near Yonge and Charles Streets. The new mural, created as part of the StART 2019 Mural Exchange project, celebrates the long-time relationship that Toronto and Frankfurt, Germany have shared as sister cities.
The mural was conceptualized and painted over six days by Becker, who is from Frankfurt, with support from local artists Alexander Bacon, Quentin Rockford, Christina Mazzulla and Kyla Buium.
The landscape of each city appears in the reflection of the glasses on the mural and illustrates the special friendship the two cities have shared for the past 30 years.
The wall where the mural is painted is part of a Green P parking garage. The space at 20 Charles St. E., which was provided by the Toronto Parking Authority, is visible from Yonge Street.
The 2019 Mural Exchange project by StreetARToronto (StART) is a City of Toronto program that works to showcase the work of local artists on an international scale. As part of this exchange, a Toronto street artist will travel to Frankfurt to collaborate with German artists and create a new mural celebrating the two cities’ longstanding relationship.
Quotes:
“Public art brings people together and breaks down barriers. This new mural by German artist Justus Becker binds together Frankfurt and Toronto from across an ocean and reinforces how international perspectives can strengthen our local communities.”
– Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson (Councillor Ward 21 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the Economic and Community Development Committee
“In 1989, when the friendship between Frankfurt and Toronto was officially sealed, the Federal Republic of Germany was in the middle of the most historic period of its recent past: the fall of the Berlin Wall. Today we are standing once again in front of a wall, but on this happy occasion there is no dark background. The Frankfurt-Toronto friendship mural is a colorful symbol of our vivid transatlantic co-operation and Frankfurt’s gift to the City of Toronto and its citizens to mark this thirtieth anniversary. Frankfurt and Toronto have similarly iconic skylines, which stand as symbols of our close and lasting friendship. I am very thankful to Justus Becker, Frankfurt’s most famous street art artist, for his great work.”
– Mayor Peter Feldmann, Frankfurt, Germany
“Diversity is what Frankfurt and Toronto hold in common, and that very much influenced my concept. The vibrant and colourful pallet represents the diversity of people in Toronto and the fingerprint represents the idea that each one of us has an impact in our society.”
– Justus Becker, lead artist
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