A mural has been painted on the façades of the village community centre in Stara Rudnica, depicting the Lower Oder Valley and, more specifically, its rich natural environment. The artwork, created by the Wallart studio, illustrates the local flora and fauna, thereby promoting the conservation of the region’s valuable ecosystem. The project was carried out as part of a Polish-German initiative funded by the Interreg VI A programme.
Five images telling a story
Stara Rudnica is a small village in the municipality of Cedynia, situated on the River Oder within the Cedynia Landscape Park. It is no coincidence that a mural dedicated to the biodiversity of the Lower Oder Valley – recognised as an exceptionally valuable natural area – was created there. A design competition was announced in March this year, and the jury selected the proposal submitted by the Wallart studio. It took the artists over a month to refine the concept, whilst the painting itself took place in the second half of May. The work lasted ten days and involved five people. It is worth noting that the entire project consists of five separate compositions spread across the walls of the community centre, which, when combined, form a panoramic narrative of the riverside landscape.
The Lower Oder Valley on the mural
The mural’s central theme is the rich natural environment of the Lower Oder region. The facades feature, amongst others, cranes, storks, grey herons, kingfishers, white-tailed eagles, beavers, otters, red deer, roe deer, foxes, wild boars and hares, as well as butterflies, dragonflies, frogs and fish found in the Oder. The animals are depicted in their natural surroundings, amongst reeds, cattails, tall grasses, herbaceous plants and trees typical of floodplains. The artists took care to reproduce the appearance of the plants and animals as faithfully as possible. Each specimen is labelled with its common and Latin names.
The Lower Oder Valley: art, education and environmental care
The mural was created using photocatalytic paints, which break down harmful components of smog into substances commonly found in nature, such as hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. The entire project supports activities carried out as part of the ‘More Biodiversity in the Unique Lower Oder Valley’ project, funded by the Interreg VI A programme. The initiative utilises public art, nature education and the promotion of the region. Meanwhile, according to the Cedynia Town and Commune Office, the decorated community centre has taken on an additional role as a venue for raising awareness of local nature among residents, tourists, naturalists and participants in Polish-German educational events.
Wallart’s experience
The Wallart studio, which has been operating for over 20 years, was responsible for creating the mural. During this time, it has completed over 1,000 murals in Poland and abroad, including in the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Azerbaijan and China. Unlike many of its earlier projects, which focused on history or advertising, the project in Stara Rudnica centred on the local ecosystem. By utilising the entire façade of the community centre, something unique and extraordinary has been created – an elaborate naturalistic illustration that encourages people to discover the attractions of the Lower Oder Valley, whilst also drawing attention to the importance of protecting biodiversity.
Source:Wallart
Photos: West Pomeranian Province Landscape Parks Complex
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