The HERO Mural is the largest mural created by international mural artist Hardthirteen and mural team Annaliza Toledo and Curly Whitebear also known as Rust Magic. Learn about the inspiration, meaning and impactful story behind this mural.
The HERO Mural Story
The Hero by Hardthirteen, Curly Whitebear and Annaliza Toledo
H.E.R.O: Hope Equality Resilience Offering
The Hero, conceived and painted by a Rust Magic collective featuring artists Hardthirteen, Curly Whitebear and Annaliza Toledo is a mural in which the central figure of a woman represents strength and resilience. Framing the woman lays an interlocking link of gold wildstyle letters, symbolizing protection from negative energy. This combination of letterform and character riffs off the fundamentals of a traditional graffiti production.
Arriving on a style that could be best described as ‘Indigenous futurism’ we wanted to use our power as artists to imagine a new future, one full of respect and reverence for people we love. In this cross-cultural exchange, we have depicted an Indigenous woman of mixed heritage, representing a future full of possibility.
For the artist Curly this piece is an opportunity to explore his own Cree heritage, in collaboration with partner Annaliza Toledo of Filipino heritage and Hardthirteen, a master at spray-painted portraiture, who came from Indonesia to collaborate on this vision.
"The Hero" mural serves as a powerful platform, shedding light on the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Our intention in creating this mural in collaboration with Indonesian artist Hardthirteen, was to cultivate an environment that fosters dialogue, understanding, and advocacy.
We extend our thanks to Edmonton Mural Festival for entrusting us with the responsibility of amplifying the voices of the marginalized and addressing the societal issues that affect our communities.
We firmly believe that "The Hero" mural serves as a catalyst for meaningful conversations and inspires positive action within our society." - Annaliza Toledo and Curly Whitebear, RUST MAGIC.
Consultation was key in developing this concept, and after a ceremony and conversation with local knowledge keepers from Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society, we created the image to help tell this important story.
Violence against Indigenous communities is a global issue. It’s a painful part of Canada’s story too. Our intention for this mural aligns with our new vision as an agency to build strong collaborations with artists to draw awareness to important issues like these.
"As curators, we trust the artists to realize their vision. Hardthirteen and the Rust Magic team did an outstanding job painting the mural and engaging the community to complete this significant piece. The mural speaks volumes, honoring and respecting The Hero" - Marcus Coldeway, Creative Director, EMF
The Edmonton Mural Festival acknowledges that we gather on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting ground, gathering place, and traveling route for the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene, and Nakota Sioux. We honor and respect the history, languages, ceremonies, and culture of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit who call this territory home.
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