Multi-Culti Mural Part II

 

One of the murals, 240 x 120 cm

Last year, I had such a great time painting a mural at Mundus College (Annex South) in Amsterdam that I couldn’t wait to return. This time, I worked in the centre annex of the school, which serves young people who have often only recently arrived in the Netherlands. So many nationalities, so many different faces!

What I love most about this school is its laid-back atmosphere and the kindness with which people treat one another. That’s no small feat given the challenges many of the students face. Listening in on some classes, I found myself grateful I never had to consciously learn Dutch—it’s a complex language! Still, many of the students pick it up quickly, especially the colloquial expressions, complete with the right accent and intonation.

The mural itself was more challenging this time because of its location. I worked in a stairway—the only connection between two parts of the building. Every time the bell rang, signaling a new period or break, dozens of students would squeeze past, often pausing to share their thoughts on the artwork. Thankfully, their feedback was a 100% positive and encouraging: “Well done, Miss! Nice job!”

I also had some help along the way. Due to the limited space, I worked with two students at a time, taking turns. Each of them did an excellent job.

The design, much like last year’s, depicts young people of different nationalities in varying shades of grey—emphasizing that skin color doesn’t matter—set against a backdrop of vibrant patterns and textile designs from around the world. This time around they include an Islamic pattern, African wax print, Mongolian tile design, and a mola from Panama, with two traditional Dutch textile designs featured in the centre. Once again, I was struck by how these patterns can be so distinct, yet share underlying similarities.

After four days of work, the once grey and dull stairway was transformed into a lively, welcoming space—an aesthetic upgrade that the students themselves approved of. I hope this is the first of many more projects to come at Mundus College!

Many thanks to the student collaborators and staff of Mundus College. It was a pleasure to work with you all!