Old City Harbour was covered by giant murals telling the Estonian story

The street art festival “Mextonia – Uniting Cultures Through Colours” was held in Estonia from 14^th of June to June 22^nd. During the festival a wall of about 2,000 square meters situated at Port of Tallinn’s Old City Harbour’s cruise area was covered by giant murals depicting stories of Estonian culture and history. 60 famous street artists, 36 from Estonia, 16 from Mexico and 8 from other parts of the world volunteered their time and made the harbour area more attractive with their masterful contemporary art work.

According to Sirle Arro, the Head of Port of Tallinn’s Marketing and Communication Department, it was Port of Tallinn’s honour to allow such a unique art project to take place at the biggest gateway to Estonia. “With more than 10 million annual passengers we want to make the Old City Harbour area as attractive as possible. The murals depicting Estonian cultural and historical story suit perfectly to the place which is passed by all the ships entering and exiting the harbour area. With the project we supported young talented street artists and created new sights that tourists and citizens of Tallinn can come and look at.”

The art work at Old City Harbour’s cruise area include a painting of a famous Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, characters from Estonian national epic “Kalevipoeg”, famous Estonian sights, famous Estonian brands, national symbols and landscape views. Also another big wall at Old City Harbour was covered with a huge mural of an old sailor who has different important stories to tell. This mural symbolises the importance of protecting the environment and the sea and stresses that the sustainability of Estonia is guaranteed until the hope and caring nature of the Estonian people remain.

The Mextonia Festival also included painting other public spaces in Tallinn and in other Estonian biggest cities. Altogether about 5,000 square metres were decorated with giant murals. 

The Mextonia Festival was organized by Nueve Arte Urbano and Todoesuno Estonia. Partners included Port of Tallinn, the Estonia 100 steering group, city of Tallinn, Tallinn University and local art organizations Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, Stencibility, Pirados, JJ-Street Baltic Sessions and Telliskivi Creative City. 

The name of the project „Mextonia“ means from Mexicans to Estonia – Mexicans’ joint gift with Estonians to the Republic of Estonia for its centenary.

See the photo album of the progress and the final results here and here.

Photo: Mextonia Festival