Murals have played an important role in urban spaces for years, giving buildings a unique character and enlivening urban landscapes. They are often not only a form of artistic expression, but also a means of cultural and historical communication. One such unique project is Karolina Pawlowska’s floral mural on the Isle of Man, which in 2022 adorned the facade of one of the residential buildings on Ramsey’s main street. It was the first such large-scale mural on the whole island and also the largest project in the artist’s career.
The building itself, on which the mural was created, is about 150 years old and required proper preparation before work could begin. An additional challenge was obtaining official permits for the project. The process of obtaining so-called ‘planning permission’ proved complicated, but the Ramsey city authorities agreed and actively supported Karolina’s initiative. The mural was painted using the freehand method, meaning that Pawlowska drew all the elements by hand, without the help of a projector, grid or repainting. She used the placement of the building’s windows for orientation. The painting took about two months, but if the actual days of work were added up, the whole process would have taken between two and three weeks. The delays were mainly due to bad weather conditions and the legendary TT motorbike race, during which roads are closed, which prevented the work from continuing.
The idea for the floral mural was born back in 2020, when the building’s owners, Ciara and David Kilgallon, contacted Karolina Pawlowska, inspired by her previous work on the island. The building itself has significant historical significance, as it was formerly home to poet Josephine Kermode, known by her pseudonym ‘Cushag’ – a word that means ‘flower’ in the Manx language. Manx is a Celtic language that emerged on the island around the fifth century AD. The owners wanted to commemorate the poet’s work in this way and to refer to the natural heritage of the island, which is a UNESCO nature reserve. Pawlowska selected local plant species and created a digital design, which she printed out and took with her to the site. Then, layer by layer, floor by floor, she painted successive elements of the composition. The building owners and local residents helped with the work of painting the windows and gutters, creating an atmosphere of community and involvement.
While working on the mural, the artist encountered many difficulties. The building was surrounded by scaffolding, which made it difficult to assess the overall composition. Karolina regularly got down on the ground to check the progress and correct any mistakes. In addition, during the course of the painting, the Isle of Man experienced its typical rainy weather, which caused interruptions in the work. The artist used this time to clean the wall of sketchy lines. The mural was completed at the end of June 2022. The biggest challenge, however, was waiting for the scaffolding to be removed, which on an island can take up to several months. There was a risk that Pawlowska, returning to Poland, would not have the opportunity to see her work in its full glory. Fortunately, by working with the local authorities, it was possible to speed up the process.
The mural quickly became an integral part of the city’s landscape and was enthusiastically received by locals and tourists alike. Carolina’s artwork was so popular with the local community that it was used as the basis for illustrations, a miniature doll’s house and even a virtual PokeStop in the game ‘Pokemon Go’. In 2024, Karolina Pawlowska’s mural was featured on official Isle of Man postage stamps issued to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the IOM Arts Council, the government organisation that funded the project. This symbolic commemoration ensures that, whatever the future fate of the building, Pawlowska’s work will always remain part of the island’s history.
“I am so grateful for this project and delighted that it can cheer up the people of the Isle of Man and add colour to the main street of Ramsey. It was a great pleasure and honour to be able to paint such a project and it will certainly stay in my heart forever.” – karolina sums up her work.
The floral mural – the house before and after the works
About the artist
Karolina Pawłowska is a Polish artist and muralist, currently based in Warsaw. She creates paintings, illustrations and transforms grey, boring walls into colourful and meaningful works of art. She believes that art should be a part of everyday life, not enclosed within the cold walls of a gallery. In her opinion, it has an extraordinary power to heal the soul and bring peace and joy. As a highly sensitive person, she thought for a long time that the intense experience of emotions was her curse. Over time, however, she discovered that painting not only soothes her soul, but can also help others and have a positive impact on their lives. Her works are an invitation to a world where one can find joy, peace and a touch of magic.
Source: Karolina Pawłowska – Cup of Layna(instagram)
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