Work has begun on Bournemouth’s latest public mural, with a team of students from Arts University Bournemouth (AUB) applying their design to the space under the Braidley Road flyover on the way into the town centre. Starting this month, with expected completion by September this year, the new mural will be Dorset’s biggest to date.
A collaboration between BCP Council, LUSH, and AUB, the project is a live brief for AUB’s BA (Hons) Illustration and BA (Hons) Graphic Design students, as Vincent Larkin, Course Leader of the Illustration course, explains:
“BCP approached the BA (Hons) Illustration course and asked if our students would be interested in transforming the Braidley Road underpass area. [They] wanted us to design a dynamic cultural landmark for the route between the town centre and Meyrick Park, one of the main walking routes into town for students.
“The space under the flyover is vast, and the mural will be the largest in Dorset once completed. To help us with such a significant project in both importance, prominence, and size, we collaborated with our BA (Hons) Graphic Design students from the beginning.
“We also enlisted the help of Bridie Cheeseman and Jake Williams from Studio Studio, a multidisciplinary creative studio in Bournemouth, who undertook the design and direction of the project."
The ambitious mural will cover the three supports for the flyover and the two back walls of the area, showcasing 15 creatives in various fields, who've lived in or have connections to Bournemouth and the wider area.
“We worked with 12 illustrators and six graphic designers from AUB to unpack stories of local creatives celebrating practice and artistic innovation in our local area," explains Bridie.
“Rather than a top-down art director-led approach, it became more of a symbiotic relationship with the students from different disciplines bouncing ideas off each other, working on composition image and text fluidly, in awareness of the overall composition of the mural space.
“This is such a wonderful and transformational project. To be able to champion well-known and sometimes lesser-known stories and building an iconic artistic location to celebrate creative activity in Dorset is so important.”
Creative figures celebrated in the mural include PJ Harvey, internationally renowned singer-songwriter born in Bridport; Millie Bobby Brown, a Hollywood actor and director who grew up in Bournemouth, and Adama Jalloh, AUB BA (Hons) Commercial Photography alumna and award-winning photographer who’s worked with The New York Times, The Financial Times, NIKE and more.
BA (Hons) Illustration student Maisie Barr explained how they chose who to celebrate and why she wanted to be involved with the project:
“We all picked people that resonated with us, with our opinions, and with our individual styles. I’ve always been interested in murals, and this was a great opportunity to see how they’re made. Murals are such a cool way of showing art, they’re so bright and colourful, and do so much to brighten up a town and make it look more vibrant and feel more welcoming.”
As well as being an additional piece of public art, the mural aims to redefine the space, making it a safer and more positive place for locals and visitors alike.
"We’ve done a lot of research into the power of creative public spaces, place-making and wellbeing evidence," explains Marten Sims, Senior Lecturer on BA (Hons) Graphic Design. "By turning this unloved space into a ‘place’, it will encourage people to spend time there looking at the artwork.
“We’ve already had enquiries from schools who are keen to arrange visits as it ticks a lot of boxes for them; namely visiting locally produced public art and introducing local creatives. Having people on site visiting, rather than simply passing through, promotes positive social interactions and can potentially reduce anti-social behaviour.”
Research by Street Studies has found evidence of public safety benefits to urban art projects. In one study, they note that 93% of street users surveyed agreed they felt safer using a tunnel once the mural had been installed than before.
Cllr Andy Martin, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Communications and Culture at BCP Council, says, “I’m delighted this exciting project is underway and cannot wait to see the result when completed.
“This is a shining example of the council joining forces with local organisations and university students to enhance an area frequented by many and in great need of brightening up.
“Not only will this be the biggest mural in the county when it’s finished, but it also provides our local students with a blank canvas to tell a story and express themselves through showcasing their own creative, artistic talents.”
