Staring at this wall, one might ask: What if a building could wear its heart on its sleeve? The Focus On The Good Mural is not just paint on a wall. It is a portal into another dimension.
Since 2013, Mannheim has been transforming its urban landscape. It has invited street artists to create large murals on building facades. This initiative is called STADT.WAND.KUNST. It turns Mannheim into an open urban art museum. Citizens and visitors can watch the art being made and enjoy it day and night.
The Focus On The Good Mural is one of these amazing artworks. The mural was created in 2018 by the Hamburg artist 1010. 1010, spoken as “ten-ten,” is known for creating the illusion of deep holes in buildings.
Born in Poland in 1979, 1010 came to Germany as a child. He painted his first piece in 1994 when he was 15. He found his artistic calling in 2010. That is when he started creating abstract holes on walls. Using clever color gradients, shadows, and precise edges, 1010 creates the illusion of three dimensions. These are truly ingenious optical illusions.
You can find the Focus On The Good Mural on Mittelstrasse 9 in Neckarstadt-West. It marks the entrance to this vibrant neighborhood. The mural covers the entire facade of a four-story building. It includes the courtyard gate.
The Focus On The Good Mural presents different colored layers. It offers a unique aesthetic within the urban environment. 1010 has become an internationally sought-after urban artist. This mural exemplifies why.
The STADT.WAND.KUNST project is a collaboration. The collaboration involves Alte Feuerwache Mannheim, GBG Mannheim, and Montana Cans. The Kulturamt of the City of Mannheim also supports it. Sto Wandfarben provides paint.
Mannheim now features over 35 murals as of August 2022. Fifteen of these are in the squares of the city center. These murals were created between 2013 and 2022. They are in the inner city, Neckarstadt, Jungbusch, and other areas.
Visiting the Focus On The Good Mural is free. It is art for everyone at any time. This mural isn’t just about seeing. It is about experiencing a new dimension. It is about finding a different perspective in the familiar urban landscape. As you stand here, take a moment. Focus on the good that art brings to our lives and our city.