4th International Public Art Festival to explore "digitalisation"

An initiative by NGO Baz-Art, this unique event showcases the best local and international mural artists. Adding to the 100 murals already painted, artists will create giant artworks on walls in Salt River for the benefit of the community and visitors to enjoy and learn about.

The festival will be the launchpad for a number of programmes, including community gardens, art classes for children, support for spin-off businesses and other interventions aimed at community upliftment.

Exploring the digital world

The 2020 theme represents a focus on an age where new technology and the advent of digitalisation have completely transformed life as we know it. Thus the question begs; can you live without your phone, tablet or laptop? And if you don’t have one, do you feel excluded from society?

The festival aims to spark dialogue and create awareness about the potential opportunities and obstacles digitalisation may hold for us in the near future. Its approach will be to incorporate classic and contemporary mediums, styles and methods of art with the digital applications. It will also feature some digital art, such as 3D virtual reality (VR) or computer graphic techniques alongside traditional muralism.

In today’s fast-paced world, the power of visual media is increasingly playing an important role in grabbing public attention. Organiser of the International Public art Festival (IPAF), Alexandre Tilmans, believes strongly that “educating present and future generations, promoting dialogue and collaboration and empowering individuals and communities through public art can help promote positive change and attitudes.”

Recognising this, the artists participating in IPAF 2020 will use walls and public spaces to visually reinforce messages around the theme for their bold, large, colourful and insightful artworks.

There will be guided tours, workshops and members of the public will be able to see local and international artists in action as they produce their works.

Attendance is free.

For more info go to ipafest.co.za