The inaugural Sea Walls: Artists for Oceans in Cape Town, South Africa, presented by PangeaSeed Foundation and Save Our Seas Foundation, was a resounding success, leaving a deep impact on ocean conservation and community activism. The event featured 18 mural artists, including international talents, who transformed 16 buildings in the city with artworks highlighting crucial oceanic issues like plastic pollution and the need for community action to protect marine life.
During their stay, the artists experienced the natural wonders of Cape Town, including a sunset at Table Mountain, a visit to the Save Our Seas Foundation Shark Centre, beach cleanups, and surfing with the Sentinel Ocean Alliance. Project Director Shani Judes emphasized the project’s role in uniting people through art and raising awareness of marine ecosystem protection.
The murals, expected to last up to seven years, symbolize the interconnectedness of life and the critical role of oceans in sustaining our planet. Pangeaseed co-founders Tré Packard and Akira Biondo praised Cape Town’s beauty and the warm reception from its residents. The project involved notable international artists like DULK (Spain), Yeye Weller (Germany), Cracked Ink (New Zealand), and Lauren YS (US), alongside top South African artists.
The artists, equipped with acrylic and spray paints provided by Montana Cans and local partner Grayscale, added 18 works to PangeaSeed’s global network of over 500 murals. These artworks spanned across various locations in Cape Peninsula, including Gardens, Kalk Bay, and Sea Point.
The Sea Walls event also included public activities like youth outreach, coastal cleanups, self-guided mural tours, and a community event at Jack Black’s Taproom featuring film screenings and discussions on art’s role in environmental activism. Each mural, infused with local relevance and historical context, aims to inspire ocean stewardship through creative storytelling, embodying Pangeaseed Foundation’s belief in ‘artivism’ – the fusion of art and activism.
James Lea, CEO of the Save Our Seas Foundation, highlighted the power of striking art in connecting people to the importance of ocean conservation, a key motive behind the collaboration with Sea Walls and Wavescape in presenting these murals. The Sea Walls activation in Cape Town is a testament to the transformative power of art in environmental advocacy, with a detailed media kit available for those interested in exploring the murals further.
All images by Yoshi Yanagita
Artist Line Up:
DULK @dulk1 – Yeye Weller @yeyeweller – Cracked Ink @crackedink – Lauren YS @squid.licker – Amy Lee Tak @amylee_originals – Aweh Migo @awehmigo – Breeze Yoko @breezeyoko – Care One @carecreative__ – DBongz @dbongz_one – Sergical One @sergical_one – Dirty Native @dirty_native_chief – Marie-Louise Koen @mlkartist – Marti Macfly @_marti.macfly_ – Motel Seven @motelseven40hk – SonnySundancer @sonnysundancer – These10Fingers @these10fingers