Catherine Borowski and Lee Baker, the minds behind Graphic Rewilding, aim to inject urban spaces with the vibrancy of nature through their massive nature-inspired artworks. The founders’ project features the installation of colourful, flower-themed murals on barren or rundown spaces in the city where actual rewilding may not be feasible. The duo believes that even artificial images of the plant offer a respite for the mind, referring to a study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine showing that hospital patients were less stressed by pictures of plants in waiting rooms.
Baker, a painter and music producer, discovered the benefits of biophilic design after undergoing a breakdown ten years ago. He found that drawing flowers was the only way to temper his buzzing brain, inadvertently uplifting his mood by creating the colourful images. Baker joined Borowski’s production company around the same time, and the two founded Graphic Rewilding last year. Baker hand-draws each flower-themed mural installed in locations like Earl’s Court station, Lewes Castle, and Shepherd’s Bush’s Westfield Shopping Centre.
While the duo’s artworks bring genuine joy to people, Borowski and Baker acknowledge that art is not the same as real rewilding. They hope their displays for Graphic Rewilding can coexist with true rewilding efforts in more open and green spaces. They plan to make a series of colourful, floral-themed pavilions out of stained glass in 2022, with Kew Garden and the Eden Project as possible showcases. The goal of the pavilions is to create a sense of magic as light shines through the glass, according to Borowski.
People’s reactions to the graphic rewilding project have been overwhelmingly positive, according to Baker. One of their first projects, in Crawley, produced a lot of beaming faces in a town struggling with the Covid pandemic’s effects. The team painted brick walls, benches, billboards, and even garbage cans with a signature floral theme to spread some joy. In addition, Borowski and Baker transformed Earl’s Court, turning a neglected area into a modern garden that children can enjoy today. The duo sees their work as cultivating happiness in places where none previously existed
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