Karachi, Jan 26 (IANS): A 286-foot-high public art mural, claimed to be world's tallest, was unveiled in Karachi, it was reported on Sunday.
The mural titled 'Rising Blue' made by Italian artist Giuseppe Percivati is part of the International Public Art Festival (IPAF), an initiative of ‘I Am Karachi', reports Dawn news.
Speaking on the occasion, Italian Consul-General Anna Ruffino said Percivati had worked in Karachi before at IPAF and also worked in several other countries such as the US, Portugal, Australia and Japan.
She said the mural was a message of peace and friendship, as well as a cry of alarm for the environment.
The subject was the conservation of mangroves in Pakistan, especially along the coast of Sindh, which was why it was a great gift to Karachi, Ruffino added.
Percivati said the project took about nine days to paint but months for preparation. He first came last July to find a location and as soon as he saw the TPL Tower (Centrepoint), he said: "This is perfect place."
"Karachi is a beautiful city but has been neglected a bit. It's called the City of Lights but sometimes it's more like a city of dust. People of Karachi are beautiful. The city can be as beautiful as Milan, Rome or London," he remarked.
Describing the artwork's symbolism, IPAF chairman Jameel Yusuf said that the mangroves supported Pakistan's ecosystem as a breeding ground for marine life and birds.