Canadian street artist Emmanuel Jarus recently completed a new mural in midtown Manhattan for a joint endeavor by Street Art for Mankind (SAM) and the United Nations to honor the latter’s 75th anniversary. His work is the first in the worldwide UN75 mural series, which will “amplify the voices of the over 1 million people across the world ” who responded to their survey about general hopes and fears for society, according to the project’s press release.
Jarus’s work is located at 243 East 44th Street, blocks from the UN Headquarters, in a rigorously scrubbed part of town notable for sleek surfaces rather than street art. Of the many issues raised by the survey’s respondents, Jarus’s contribution to the UN75 series focuses on inequality and zero hunger. As such, it is sponsored by Kashi, a company owned by UN Global Compact member Kellogg’s.
This work aligns with the artist’s repertoire of paint-splotched portraits depicting earnest individuals going about average days. Here, a bright-eyed child reaches just beyond their comfortable wingspan to pluck the fruit from a bough. Rendered in a playful contrast of blue and teal background amongst the child’s orange striped shirt, Jarus’s mural captures a moment and morphs it into a metaphor. As the child reaches for the fruit, our developing society must also extend itself towards a better future.
The artist himself stated, “I truly feel that the world is at a crucial time, and it gives me pleasure to share my abilities as an artist with NYC and the world to focus their attention on the message of #ZeroHunger. The world appears to be in crisis in a variety of ways, and I feel it is important for humanity to unify over aspirational, but achievable goals. It is with great honor that I participate as a muralist during #UN75.”
The press release notes that this work attempts steps in that direction, alluding to a Kashi-led social media campaign that will “donate meals to a local non-profit organization to amplify its action against hunger.
This mural, and the 74 which will follow it, celebrate the UN75 global consultation, which “represents the UN’s most ambitious effort to date to understand expectations of international cooperation and of the UN in particular.” The release continues to explain that “It is also the largest survey to date on priorities for recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
SAM comes in with their continued commitment to curate these many works. The organizations have collaborated since 2017, most recently with their 2019 project, “a series of murals for the UN oldest agency, the ILO, as part of their 100th anniversary.” This year, SAM’s free App “Behind the Wall®” enables enthusiasts around the world “to scan the mural to hear the UN75 stories and engage with the art from home.” SAM is a “non-profit organization working with prominent street artists from all around the world to raise awareness on SDG’s and child trafficking through the power of art.”
Audrey and Thibault Decker, the organization’s Co-founders, stated, “We hope that this mural, created by the talented Emmanuel Jarus, will inspire generations to build a fairer world for all.” Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on UN75, Fabrizio Hochschild added, “I am hopeful that this powerful artwork will inspire meaningful action.”
Louise Cotterill, Director of Marketing and Communications at Kashi, added a more interesting point, stating “The mural represents a better tomorrow and a world where our children are supported – not just by their families – but by people everywhere. Kashi’s mission is to democratize healthy eating and we know there is so much we can do on the way to achieving zero hunger.” Jarus’s work is beautiful, and the project’s mission is nobly intentioned. While the commercial capital of New York City doesn’t need aesthetic rejuvenation, the influential decision makers who frequent its offices do need this work’s message. In this present society, the most rapid and effective change would come at the hands of their decision-making, meaningful and cathartic as dialogue might seem.
Images by Just_a_spectator
Emmanuel Jarus: facebook | instagram
Street Art For Mankind: website | facebook | instagram | twitt
