BELOW THE SURFACE

THE PROJECT

PAYING TRIBUTE TO MARINE BIODIVERSITY

Rome has a new eco-mural. It is the first to grace the exterior walls of a city affordable housing building, found within the Tor Bella Monaca area: the neighborhood with the greatest number of government housing residences in all of Italy. The mural's message is clear: the right to beauty and dignity, lest we forget that dignity is a human right.

The work is entitled Below the Surface, by famed artist Lucamaleonte, and is a project backed by Yourban2030 as part of the RIF Special Palaexpo initiatives being organized by the RIF Museo delle Periferie (Museum of the Outskirts). Rome's VI Municipal District local government is involved in the project's support as well as city delegate Alessandro Marco Gisonda, the Findus Italy company, and Mario Cecchetti of the ColorOnda project.

More than just a work of art, display of color, and eco-mural, Below the Surface is a true example of architectural urban renewal and restoration: the wall which houses the mural was first completely reconstructed and brought up to city code with funds donated by Yourban2030 and Findus Italy.

Il RIF Museo delle periferie (Museum of the Outskirts)

The RIF Museo delle Periferie is a Rome City project, part of the VI Municipal District's Palaexpo special initiatives.
Conceived of and directed by Giorgio de Finis, the RIF project aims to bring attention to Rome's outskirt neighborhoods, as part of a greater reflection on similar urban areas, worldwide. The modern art museum's objectives, and those of its center for multidisciplinary studies, are the use art and interpersonal relationship studies to create cities imbued with equality and inclusivity, and which see greater participation from their citizens. That is: a city for all. The project, entitled: "A Helping Hand for Tor Bella", encompasses the creation of an itinerant open air museum exhibition on an urban scale, able to make the rounds of Rome's many museums, creating a platform for appearances by world-famous artists on the 21 Towers, as well as additional events throughout the area.

Lucamaleonte's green mural will be featured in this circuit of art focused on the city's outskirts, and is one of the stars of Torbellamonaca's open air museum.

https://www.museodelleperiferie.it/

AIRLITE

ART WHICH CLEANS OUR AIR

The mural was painted with a specialized eco-paint able to lower the pollutants in the surrounding air, thanks to a process, similar to plants' chlorophyll photosynthesis, which generates an oxidizing reaction by which air impurities are captured and then destroyed.

Airlite, a revolutionary technology present in simple surface paint, offers an innovative and accessible solution to the problem of air quality. It is activated by the simple energy of light, which then interacts with the pollutant molecules, purifying the air in a completely natural manner.

Tests reveal that Airlite is able to reduce atmospheric pollution up to 88.8%, eliminate 99.9% of bacteria, keep dirt particles at bay, and neutralize odors. For example: 100 sq mt of surface area painted with Airlite are able to purify the surrounding air to the same degree as 100 sq mt of forest.

Sustainability is not only a message, but seen in concrete application--such as materials one chooses.

The artist

Lucamaleonte

As of the beginning of the 2000's he was already expressing himself through street art using stencils and posters, and then moved on to the mediums of paint and brushes. He concentrates on figures inspired by nature, such as animals and plants: a narration of a symbolic and hidden world, to be unveiled and interpreted by the onlooker. His greatest passion is telling stories of places through his wall murals.

Lucamaleonte currently has numerous exhibitions on display which feature his work, as well as his many muraled walls, the world over.

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BELOW THE SURFACE Murales

Inauguration

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BELOW THE SURFACE Promo

by Lucamaleonte

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BELOW THE SURFACE TIMELAPS

by Lucamaleonte

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BELOW THE SURFACE Coloronda

Creative Itineraries

Photo by Y2030

Coloronda - Creative Itineraries

BEYOND THE RIGHT TO A DWELLING

The right to beauty and dignity, especially as perceived by children: creating the citizens of the future through childhood educational programs.

It is with this in mind that Mario Cecchetti and his ColorOnda project became involved. Forming multiple creative workshops for "baby street art" around the neighborhood while Lucamaleonte worked on his mural, a child-sized topography of the area came to life.

The mural itself, with its vibrant colors inspired by marine life, is more than just a tribute to biodiversity. It is a true reflection on the richness which is social diversity--even that which is not immediately apparent but which is, true to its title, Beneath the Surface.

“"The mural depicts a school of fish of various species, many native to the Mediterranean, symbolic of the biodiversity of our land."” says Lucamaleonte.