THIS is the lightbulb moment that paints a picture of hope for the future – a powerful painting amid the solar panel-packed sands of desert state Oman.
Swiss-French graffiti artist Saype, famous for giant artworks on top of mountains, along coastlines and even in city centre stadia, was commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations between Switzerland and the Sultanate of Oman.
The two nations co-operate on sustainability initiatives, and Saype used 10,000 square metres of eco-friendly paint to place a child at the heart of Oman’s largest solar power farm in Ibri.
Completed and unveiled last week, it is a remarkable piece of work that is one of the artist’s most inventive yet – and that’s saying something because his art is certainly spectacular.
“Energy management is certainly one of the major challenges of our ever-accelerating world,” says Saype. “Our contemporary civilisation was built on fossil fuels, but today we must look to the future and seek sustainable solutions to keep the earth habitable.
“It is with the major environmental issues of our time in mind that I chose to paint in one of the largest solar farms in the Middle East.
“Being aware that the solution centres around a complex energy mix and in a form of sobriety, I chose to paint this child playing with the magic of solar energy.
“Looking towards the horizon, he symbolises the renewal of a civilisation that must now re-invent itself to continue to grow without destroying the planet.”
Both the Sultanate of Oman and the Swiss Confederation have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint and set themselves the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Self-taught Saype is best known for his paintings on grass, made with 100% biodegradable paint he developed himself, and was listed by Forbes magazine among the 30 most influential personalities under the age of 30 in the field of art and culture.
His huge paintings have attracted worldwide acclaim, many of them featuring a child looking to the future.
Among Saype’s works is a continuing quest to create the largest human chain in the world, with linking hands in more than 30 cities around the globe.
You can follow Saype on Instagram here. All images in this post by Saype.
Paul Cole Travels 
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