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The 2015 Porlwi By Light festival brought colour and form to the streets of Mauritius ’ capital . The festival “ helped a lot in bringing street art into the mainstream , as well as building an economy around it ”, artist Evan Sohun says . “ The demand for murals , particularly in the private sector , has only increased since then ”. Going beyond its aesthetic appeal , street art has a lot of positives to offer , having been shown to promote urban regeneration , social cohesion , and national economic growth .
Transforming urban areas into openair galleries “ encourages people to look around and change the way they see their surroundings ”, says artist Brian Lamoureux . Walls , open to all to view , connect with a variety of audiences , breaking down the barriers often associated with art . “ Street art encourages dialogue , challenges norms and celebrates diversity . It helps create a feeling of belonging and of collective identity ,” adds artist Baba Gaïa .
Keen to revitalise their cities and attract more visitors , public authorities around the world are giving urban art their backing . As artist Dévid points out , “ whether it ’ s spontaneous or commissioned , street art is a gift : it embellishes public spaces and shares culture free of charge , bringing a lasting change to the character of a place ”. There are now countless travel blogs devoted to street art , while the website ‘ Street Art Cities ’ – which showcases urban art from around the world – receives new photos every day . With this level of interest , it ’ s hardly surprising that some works of street art are becoming major tourist attractions ( just think of the famous murals on the Berlin Wall , or the Brooklyn district of New York ...).
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Recognising street art ’ s ability to breathe new life into sometimesneglected spaces , and determined to preserve its rich cultural heritage , the New Chinatown Foundation began channeling this art form into a revitalisation of Port-Louis ’ s Chinatown in 2018 . Today , the district features more than one hundred murals . Other towns on the island , such as Beau Plan , Tamarin and Moka , have followed in the wake of this success , inviting artists to express themselves on their walls or urban fixtures . What does the local economy stand to gain ?
“ Street art contributes an enormous potential for economic development : it makes spaces more attractive , which contributes to the well-being of local residents , and draws visitors , making the region more desirable ,” says Mathieu Pigeot , Art & Culture Manager for the Smart City of Moka . Baba Gaïa shares this view : “ This artform contributes to the growth of cultural tourism , consolidates the country ’ s position as a centre of creativity and innovation , and stimulates economic growth through initiatives that involve local artists in community development projects ”.
We would be remiss if we failed to highlight the crucial role urban art has played in the rehabilitation of marginalised neighbourhoods . In 2017 and 2018 , the Mangalkhan and Roche Bois districts were given a new lease of life by the Colour for Change initiative created by Sofap – a Mauritian paint company that is always ready to support street art , especially when it “ promotes creativity , cultural diversity and sustainable urban development ”, to quote Marketing Manager Mélissa Ramsay .
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The search for recognition
Although still relatively new to public life , the urban art scene may transform the face of Mauritius in the near future . Artists like Dévid dream of an annual festival : “ We need at least one street art event to create a link with the public . I ’ m thinking along the lines of successful festivals abroad – MURAL in Montreal , Upfest in Bristol , HKwalls in Hong Kong and so on .”
Building international partnerships , with Mauritian artists participating in residencies or global street art events , facilitated by the creation of a dedicated local organisation , as Evan Sohun advocates …? Baba Gaïa agrees that this could help “ showcase the richness and diversity of our art scene on a global scale .” Brian Lamoureux adds , “ Exchanges with other countries – starting with the African continent – would make it clear that it ’ s worth taking an interest in Mauritian artists .” Hear , hear !
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