“Rising Tide” by Stefan Smit | Sea Point, Cape Town
This mural was painted as part of Sea Walls, a street art festival raising awareness for ocean conservation.
Emerging from the top of Kleinsky's and going six-stories into the sky on Sea Point's Main Road, is "Rising Tide" by Stefan Smit (AKA these10fingers).
The piece is a part of a growing collection of murals around the city that subtly showcase the region's cultural affinity for the arts and creativity.
"I wanted to create a beautiful artwork that grabs people’s attention, but when viewed closely, a more sinister side emerges - showing that the multicoloured and eye-catching elements are, in fact, microplastics and pollution. This subtle factor was important because the pollution problem often seems subtle.
I also wanted a key element of my work to be optimism and chose to have a strong feminine figure rising triumphantly above the chaos symbolising a way forward for us all." - Stefan Smit
Sea Point may not be at the same level of street art volume as an area like Woodstock just yet, but there certainly seems to be more urban art waiting to be enjoyed by those who take the time to notice it.
Street art volume is potentially a leading indicator that the value of a city precinct is increasing. If well-known artist are willing to offer their work to the public good gratis, surely the conditions are being created for the welcoming of more such value in future.
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