Bringing Colour Back to the City : The Windhoek Mural Project by Hildegard Titus

Windhoek’s city centre has clearly felt the financial pres-sures caused by Covid-19.

Shops and businesses which have been operating for decades now sit empty with an ominous ‘To Let’ sign providing a constant reminder of all the pandemic has taken from us.

The arts have not been spared. With Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings, the number of arts events, exhibitions and performances have decreased. While curators, galleries and event venues have tried to adjust to the ‘new normal’ by having online events, it is clear that in

times like these, we need all the colour and inspiration we can get.

Cue public art.

Public art is about making art accessible to the masses, The presence of art is more important than ever, especially as we try to spend more time outdoors. Public murals, sculptures and live performances are instrumental in continuing to nurture and create meaningful discourse and dialogue as well as exposing the public to the arts.

That’s why The ENK Institute for Public Art has endeavoured to bring back colour to Windhoek’s city centre with the Windhoek Mural Project.

Partnering with Broll Namibia, Gustav Voigts Centre and the College of the Arts with sponsorships from Bonlife Namibia and Neo Paints Namibia, the Windhoek Mural Project commissioned five artists – Nambowa Malua, Michelle Isaak, Taanyanda Matheus, Edith Wasserfall and John Kalunda – to paint murals across the capital.

Emmanuel Enkara, creative director and founder of the ENK Institute for Public Art, explains that the concept behind the project was to inspire.

“It’s important to have public art in the city because it creates a difference to the open and neglected areas of the city that are sometimes dull and uninspired,” Enkara says.

“We have a lot of advertising and a lot of walls that are left open. The importance comes to adding something to our tourism sector that gives Namibia an identity [through public art], because these artists are expressing themselves on a large scale.”

He believes art has a unique ability to rehabilitate and better the mind.

“A constant flow and consumption of art will only better the public that is observing and experiencing this art,” Enkara says.

Malua, who completed the first two murals on the corner of Fidel Castro and Werner List streets, hopes the project inspires other artists to explore public art and that property owners would be open to artists being able to transform their spaces.

It took Malua two weeks to complete the murals, which pay homage to the divine feminine.

“The murals I’ve created are quite feminine in nature. While it might be difficult for the masculine energy to accept that there has been a shift to feminine energy over the last couple of years, it’s important for this work to be in a public space,” Malua says. “It is accessible. It is time for the spotlight to be on the divine feminine, which allows her to lead the way with her energy.”

The remaining four murals will be completed by the end of October.

Isaak, who is a multidisciplinary artist and the ENK Institute for Public Art’s in-house muralist, will create “a telephonic image that puts a smile on everyone’s face”, explains Enkara.

Seasoned artist Matheus will create a mural that represents one of the earliest forms of transportation in Namibia.

Wasserfall, a designer and corporate branding expert, will create a mural that highlights an uplifting Namibian phrase.

Lastly Kalunda, an art educator, will pay homage to Namibian athletes.

The ENK Institute calls on artists who were involved in painting the independence mural on Mandume Ndemafayo Avenue (opposite Chameleon Backpackers) in 1990 to get in touch to be interviewed about their experiences at the time.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.