Brazilian muralist Eduardo Kobra paints largest mural for Rio 2016 Olympics

Guiness World Record Title. 

Updated 22  August 2016

By Dieneke Ferguson

The famous Brazilian muralist Eduardo Kobra has painted the largest mural created by a single person which coincides with the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The mural measures an area of almost 3,000 square metres, is 190 metres long and 15.5 metres high and now holds a Guinness World Records Title.

The Mural called  “We are all one” illustrates  indigenous people  from the five continents. The five continents are represented by: Asia – Karen, Thailand; Oceania – Tribor Hulis, Papua New Guinea; America – the Tapajos, the Amazon Region. Europe – Chukchi tribe of Siberia and Africa – the Mulsi, Ethiopia. The concept was based on the five Olympic Rings.

 

 

 

 

Kobra says: “Intolerance in the world of today is growing. People from different continents, especially Europe, are rejecting the’immigrant’ or the person who is different and claim the sole right over the land. I hope this wall, in the spirit of the Olympic games, help us to remember that we all have similar traits, that we are all different but equal. That diversity is beautiful but in the end we are all one, the human species. “

here is a great video of the process from CCTV America

 

 

 

 

 

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The piece has take about Approximately 1,500 liters of coloured paint, and 3,500 cans of spray paint .Kobra along with four other guest artists have been working for at least 12 hours a day for the past two months to get it finished. The mural was completed just before the Olympics started on the 30 July.

The invitation to paint the wall came from the artistic director and curator of the Olympic Boulevard, Andrea Franco. It has the support of the city of Rio and Rio 2016 Olympic Games Organising committee.

The huge mural forms an important part of the ‘Olympic Boulevard’ — a three kilometer strip that includes big screens, live music, and nightly firework displays. It is the central part of a formerly run-down port area that has been rejuvenated in the lead up to the games.  regenerated and formerly run-down port area praça mauá, and is close to Santiago Calatrava’s recently Museum of Tomorrow.

Kobra, who lives in Sao Paulo, has created pieces around the world in cities like London, Tokyo and New York. He is inspired by many artists specially the Mexican painters and Eric Grohe from the US. Many of his murals pay homage to people that have marked history in different areas, and includes Andy Warhol, Nelson Mandela and the Brazilian architect Niemeijer.