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In an increasingly monochromatic Toronto, it's great to be able to celebrate new infusions of colour and art. The latest mural animating our Downtown cityscape was unveiled this past weekend on the side of a Green P parking garage at 20 Charles Street East, just south of Yonge and Bloor. The new work from German artist Justus Becker adds visual interest to a previously blank wall, while celebrating Toronto and Frankfurt, Germany, one of our sister cities.
Toronto Deputy Mayor and Ward 21 Scarborough Centre Michael Thompson was joined on Sunday by Peter Feldmann, Mayor of Frankfurt, representatives of the Toronto Parking Authority and Goethe-Institute, as well as artist Justus Becker to unveil the five-storey mural. The art was created as part of the StART 2019 Mural Exchange project, a City of Toronto program which also brings a Toronto street artist to Frankfurt to collaborate with German artists on a local mural following the same theme.
"Public art brings people together and breaks down barriers," stated Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson. "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."
Painted on the west facade of a Toronto Parking Authority garage, on a highly-prominent wall visible from Yonge Street, the mural was conceptualized and painted over six days by Frankfurt native Becker, working alongside local artists Alexander Bacon, Quentin Rockford, Christina Mazzulla, and Kyla Buium. The mural features Frankfurt and Toronto cityscapes appearing in the reflection of a pair of glasses, illustrating the twinned status the cities have shared for the past 30 years.
“Diversity is what Frankfurt and Toronto hold in common, and that very much influenced my concept," stated Becker. "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.”
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