Murals bring community spaces to life

By Ma Yuhan, Yichang International Communication Studio

An ocean-themed mural has appeared in the Jishan community. Adorned with colorful flounders, turtles, jellyfish, and various marine creatures, it brings a renewed vitality to the neighborhood.
 

The sea-themed mural
 

Feng Jinhua, the Party Secretary of the Jishan community, shared the story behind the art piece.
 

“There used to be a cement column fence standing between the community and a vegetable market. Residents would often climb over the fence to go the market. However, there was a height gap between the surfaces on both sides of the fence, posing a safety hazard to those ‘climbers’," explained Feng.
 

The fence that preceded the wall.
 

Recognizing the need for safety, local authorities replaced the fence with a white wall, but many residents found it unattractive.
 

Therefore, the community called on residents to give the wall a new look. They then sought suggestions from community members on what to paint.

Yang Ya, an art student, suggested an ocean theme, representative of healing.

The concept resonated with everyone, especially considering the large number of children in the community.

Song Xuanqi, a high school graduate who happened to have ample free time after the college entrance exam, contributed to the outline of fish and seaweed on the wall. Wang Junjie, a community member, was responsible for mixing the colors, while others filled in the painting.

From mid-July to early October, the once ordinary wall was given a new look with meaning for the locals.

The mural has become a popular spot in the Jishan Community. Many people come to pose for photos and post on social media.

"After seeing these fish, it feels like I've been to an oceanarium," said Bao Deying, a resident of the community.

Xiaoting media contributed the original Chinese story for this report.