LARGER THAN LIFE

Four South African MURAL ARTISTS are transforming the local URBAN LANDSCAPE, one attention-grabbing wall at a time.

- DUMISANI MNISI

A CITY CAN BE A DRAB, GREY CONCRETE JUNGLE - or it can be a giant canvas. By painting the walls around us, street artists seek to alter dull spaces, reinvent their cities and share community stories. We speak to four local muralists who are doing just that.

* JOHNNY ALLISON is a Pretoria-based illustrator and animator, and the creative director and muralist behind Chicken Licken's new exterior rebranding.

My interest in murals started when I was a child. I was blown away that one could paint something so big. It felt like a whole new frontier.

My creative process involves treating my art like a business. I give each phase - sketching, conceptualising, prepping enough time, so that the artwork arrives where it needs to.

My favourite mural ever painted is at Design Quarter in Fourways. It took four "days" - it was done at night, in complete darkness, with just a torch. The mural depicts faces with many narratives, showcasing a wholeness we all strive for and share.

I'm currently working with Chicken Licken - by far my favourite client. The scope and impact of this project is unmatched, and my ability to self-express through a client has never been more realised. johnnylallison

* SHAUN OAKLEY, aka Damn Vandal, is a Durbanborn illustrator and graffiti artist who loves to push boundaries, and play with strong colours and designs. With 22 years of experience, he has collaborated with mega-brands such as Pringles, Hollywoodbets and KFC.

My journey to creating murals began in 2004, when I started dabbling in graffiti. I was already part of the skateboarding scene, and I thought the two cultures synced really well. I wanted my art to be on the front cover of skateboarding magazines!