2020 has definitely been the year of serious discussions about race and systemic injustice. If there were one person who embodies the fight for racial unity, it's Nelson Mandela. And a new mural dedicated to the legendary Nobel Peace Prize-winner in Montreal serves as a reminder of how far we've come and how much work is still left to do.
The mural, painted by Franco Égalité, is found on Union United Church at the corner of Atwater at Delisle.
We got a chance to speak to the artist about capturing the essence of Mandela, what he represents and the importance of this piece today.
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What does having a memory of Nelson Mandala in Montreal mean/signify to you?
It reminds me that my city has been a partner in some of the great events of our global history.
It also means to me that Nelson Mandela's fight for freedom is far from being over and that it is still worth fighting for even to this present day here in Montreal.
The most important part to me, besides Mandela’s iconic smile, was his fist. I remember wanting no assistants to work on it but me.
I felt like this section of the mural is where lies hope and its potential for us. It’s from this iconic symbol that the crowd and sun-rays start to then expand across the wall.
It holds a lot of power and meaning to me.
Why do you think it's important for Montreal to honour the late Nelson Mandela in 2020?
First of all, I think monuments such as Nelson Mandela live outside of time and that it’s always a great time to celebrate and commemorate their achievements!
This year especially, with everything that happened and is still happening in regards to the Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality, and so on I feel like honouring the late Nelson Mandela offers a great opportunity for everyone to dig into his story and the fall of South African apartheid.
Which too many of us (me included) might have forgotten.
