HIMACS Fuels Stuart Melrose and Kev Munday’s Vibrant Homage to Reading
Renowned designer Stuart Melrose and artist Kev Munday were faced with a unique challenge when tasked with creating a vibrant backlit mural for Reading’s new Station Hill development. This mural, part of a larger public art project, was intended to celebrate and reflect the cultural heritage of the area while also serving as an engaging piece of public art for residents and visitors alike.
To ensure that the mural captured the essence of Reading, Melrose and Munday collaborated with a committee of local historians, art groups, and school children. The goal was to infuse the artwork with elements that represented Reading’s rich history and vibrant personality in a visually striking and fun manner. Artist Kev Munday’s distinctive graffiti style was deemed perfect for the project, adding a joyful and energetic touch to the mural.
Positioned as a welcoming gateway to Reading from the train station, the mural offers a visually captivating entrance to the town. Its strategic location allows it to be viewed from a nearby park, providing the perfect vantage point to admire the installation. Given the outdoor setting and high traffic nature of the location, it was essential to select materials that could withstand the elements and potential wear and tear.
HIMACS, a durable and versatile solid surface material, was chosen for the mural due to its design flexibility, toughness, and resistance to damage. The material’s non-porous nature and ease of cleaning made it an ideal choice for a public art installation of this scale. Selecting Opal from the Lucent collection allowed the mural to achieve the desired eye-catching translucency that added to its visual appeal.
Titled “Royals, Residents & a Rock Festival,” the mural pays homage to various aspects of Reading’s cultural heritage. Famous figures associated with the town, as well as local landmarks and events, are prominently featured in the artwork. The inclusion of notable personalities, iconic locations, and cultural references adds depth and meaning to the mural, making it a true representation of Reading’s identity.
The completed installation has received positive feedback from the public, with onlookers expressing delight and fascination with the artwork. The mural serves not only as a visual landmark but also as a catalyst for urban regeneration, engaging the community and enhancing the town’s image as a vibrant and culturally rich destination.
The complexity of the mural’s design, particularly its intricate lighting system, required careful planning and execution. With over 100,000 individually addressable LEDs and a custom-designed light diffusion system, the mural achieved a stunning visual effect that evolves from soft pastels to deeper hues as daylight fades. The use of HIMACS as a diffuser material was crucial in spreading light evenly and maintaining color clarity throughout the mural.
To bring the mural to life, 54 sheets of HIMACS were meticulously fabricated and installed by façade specialists, with lighting components supplied and programmed by experts in the field. The collaborative effort between Melrose, Munday, and a team of skilled professionals resulted in a striking and enduring artwork that now serves as a vibrant cultural centerpiece for Reading.
In conclusion, the HIMACS-powered mural created by Stuart Melrose and Kev Munday stands as a colorful and captivating tribute to Reading’s rich cultural heritage. Through meticulous planning, innovative design, and the use of durable materials, the mural has transformed a previously derelict site into a visually stunning public art installation that celebrates the town’s identity and invites residents and visitors to engage with its vibrant history and character.