A monumental mural to awaken consciousness has been created on Avenue du XVème Corps, on the occasion of the United Nations Ocean Conference.
As the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) came to an end in Nice, art speaks… on the walls. On Friday, June 13th, a monumental mural was just “born” on Avenue du XVème Corps under the brushes of the Whole Street collective, with support from international organizations like the PangeaSeed Foundation and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. An engaged, poetic work to remind us how humanity’s future is linked to the ocean’s.
A scene between light and darkness
Entitled “Interconnected Waters“, the mural, signed by Nice-based artist Thomas Debatisse, depicts a luminous woman, embodying nature, reaching out to a man adrift in the darkness. A visual call for unity between humans and the sea.
“This project speaks of the interconnection between oceans, but also between man and the ocean,” describes the artist. “The man plunged into darkness symbolizes humanity facing current challenges, like plastic pollution. The woman, surrounded by fish, in the light, represents a sort of goddess entity of nature. She is surrounded by fish, especially small blue fish. It’s a reference to the Blue Economy” – a new environmentally-friendly marine economy.
With 20 years of experience, Debatisse painted this mural almost alone in three days. He admits that this project led him to question his own artistic practice: “even my painting pollutes, and it made me think. How can I adapt my art to be more respectful of the oceans and the environment?”
In the same spirit, Nice-born artist Jen Miller created a second mural on the walls of the Palais des Expositions, continuing this visual dialogue between nature, the sea, and humanity.
A message carried beyond the walls
This project came to life thanks to the collaboration between Whole Street, led by Thomas Debatisse, and the international foundation PangeaSeed, specialized in awareness campaigns through street art worldwide. For this mural, they were able to count on the exceptional support of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a key player in ocean conservation based in the United States.
Eleanore Humphries, Director of Federal Policy and Government Affairs at Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, visited Nice: “I am surprised, moved, and delighted by this opportunity to be here. Supporting these artists exceeded all our expectations. It’s an opportunity to reach the public in a different, emotional way.“
She continues: “We know that to motivate change, even at the highest levels like the United Nations, people must first feel connected to nature. This mural is a unique way to achieve that.“
Art as a bridge between policies and citizens
For the aquarium, which advocates globally for sustainable solutions, the Nice mural is a first public art intervention abroad. “We wanted to support local artists in this endeavor because awareness should not only come from policies, it should also touch the heart of the public.“
Thomas Debatisse hopes this wall becomes a daily reminder:
“The idea is that even stuck in traffic, someone looks at this wall and thinks: oh, the ocean… It’s true, I should change something.“
A mural, a symbol
This project symbolizes an unprecedented meeting between the world of Nice urban art and international institutions mobilized for the oceans. And while a mural alone won’t change the world, it can, in its own way, awaken consciousness.
“We all have a role to play for a sustainable future,” reminds Eleanore Humphries. “Whether you’re an artist, a citizen, or a policymaker, each of us can contribute, at our own level, to reconnecting others to the ocean, in their hearts, minds, and even in the economy.“
