After spending some time in Italy working on 2 murals, Australian Artist Fintan Magee made his way east and just completed a stunning mural in Istanbul, Turkey for Mural Istanbul.
About The Mural
“Pray for rain” is the title of Fintan’s mural in Istanbul. The artist uses humor and realist imagery to tell an Australian story outside of it’s usual context and setting. By drawing links between ongoing drought in Australia and the Middle East the artist aims to demonstrate our connection in the struggle against climate change and the challenges we face going into the future.
“In 2008 my home city of Brisbane was hit with level 6 water restrictions following over a decade of drought. At it’s peak our cities water supply dropped to %16 and Garden hoses were banned as people were advised to only take 5 minute showers. To deal with the water shortage many city residents would shower with buckets, collecting the excess soapy water so they could use it to wash their cars and water their gardens.
While Queenslanders were showering with buckets South Turkey and the Levant region was 2 years into it’s own drought, a drought which a decade on has grown into the worst on record and possibly the worst in 900 years. A NASA study published by the Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres suggests that the severe drought conditions in the Middle East have had a “catalytic effect” for the upheaval and conflict that eventually gripped Syria.” – Fintan Magee
About The Artist
Fintan Magee is an Australian street artist known for his murals throughout Australia and the world. Born in Lismore, New South Wales, he grew up in Brisbane, gaining a reputation as a graffiti writer before obtaining a fine arts degree and relocating to Sydney.
His work often deals with environmental issues, in 2015 his solo show at Backwoods Gallery in Melbourne was themed around his own personal experiences in the 2011 Brisbane floods. He often uses personal stories to talk about broader issues like climate change and the migrant crisis.
He received national acclaim for his mural depicting Felix Baumgartner in Brisbane, and has participated in various public art festivals in Australia and abroad.
Images taken without permission from Fintan Magee’s facebook page and Mural Istanbul’s intagram. Hope they both turn a blind eye :-\
Fintan Magee: web | facebook | instagram
Mural Istanbul: website | facebook | instagram
