(Mike
McFadyean and the wall of Umcebo Design’s new home)
Umcebo Design has moved from their studio
space in Bulwer Road in Glenwood to a new property at 12 Brents Avenue (just
down the road). Since, over the years, Mike McFadyean has contributed his
graphic design and art skills to Umcebo for their branding and general design
requirements such as their web site etc, it seemed like the perfect opportunity
for him to re-brand Umcebo with a spanking new logo and look.
On top of this, Robin Opperman, the
Creative Director of Umcebo Design, thought that it would be a great idea to
herald the arrival of Umcebo Design in Brents Avenue by inviting McFadyean to
come up with a mural design for the massive wall at the end of the street. McFadyean,
always up for a street art opportunity, enthusiastically dived in and started
designing.
Residents in Brents Avenue were asked for
permission since McFadyean felt that it was important that a huge mural bring
value to the street. Everyone was on-board and so the mural went ahead.
McFadyean took about 16 hours over about
five days to paint the mural from scratch. Everything was painted by hand, no
spray cans.
According to McFadyean “When I saw the wall
and the lonely little tree in front of it, I instantly knew what design
direction I wanted to take. For me, the tree design is not only a celebration
of Umcebo’s arrival in Brents Avenue, but also a graphic representation of how
small ideas can grow huge with the right nurturing. I felt that a graphic tree
done in a faux stained-glass technique would read well from a distance as
people turn into Brents, but also be something that residents can live with for
a while and feel that it brings value and interest to the street.”
The mural - named “The Lucky Bean Tree” is the first of what Opperman hopes to be the
rolling out of a year-long project where he hopes to collaborate with muralists
and street artists in bringing more art to the streets of Glenwood, Musgrave
and Berea.
So, along with other artists, McFadyean’s work
will be popping up in other places on the Berea over 2018 - look out for his
signature tag “MKM”.
For more information contact 083 793 3408,
email: robin@umcebodesign.co.za
or visit
www.umcebodesign.co.za
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