This mural by Lauren YS depicts an imaginary city that is sustainable, future-thinking, fantastical, zero-emission, and meant to withstand rising sea levels.
The floating nature of this mural is tied to the mural's location, the island nation of New Zealand.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Students bring their own ideas and interpretations to the artwork that develop critical thinking.
This is an imaginative way to get students thinking about different ways to meet humanity's needs without compromising the needs of other species.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should have an understanding of what urban design and planning mean.
Differentiation
This imaginative mural invites students to come up with their own versions of what the future could hold in store for cities.
A lesson could explore ways that art can expand technological possibilities by expanding the creative thought processes that start with scientific knowledge and lead to new practical applications.
Other resources related to these topics include thismural about marine animals' anger towards human's impact on the environment and this video about an idea for a regenerative global city called Planet City.
Scientist Notes
This piece of arts showcases the imperative of a smart and sustainable city and the need to deploy innovative design to withstand sea level rise and other impending natural hazards. This resource is recommended.
Standards
National Core Arts Standards
Visual Arts: Standard 7 - Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA:Re7.2.IIa Evaluate the effectiveness of an image or images to influence ideas, feelings, and behaviors of specific audiences.
Visual Arts: Standard 8 - Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA:Re8.1.4a Interpret art by referring to contextual information and analyzing relevant subject matter, characteristics of form, and use of media.
VA:Re8.1.5a Interpret art by analyzing characteristics of form and structure, contextual information, subject matter, visual elements, and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed.
