Stories Behind The Art: Tennis, Dance and Pikachu!

The Brandon Estate in Kennington Park was in need desperate need of some care and attention after it had spent years at the mercy of spray paint and graffiti. Local residents felt that the 60m stretch of wall that shielded their estate from Kennington Park harkened back to the days of gang culture and violence, a time the locals were keen to leave behind. 

Brewers Decorator Centre in Peckham branch was approached by local group Bee Urban to help out with an ambitious community scheme, in association with The Brandon Tenants Residents Association.  The aim was to paint a massive mural along a 60m wall, making it one of the longest murals in London.

Brewers  store manager Jimmy Thomson was delighted to help by donating over 150 litres of Albany Paint to the community project. The Peckham store were blown away by the enthusiasm of Bee Urban’s Barnaby Shaw as his team strove to overcome the negative image created about the estate, seeking instead to highlight a very different message. 

Hexagon 8 was designed by the students of High Shore, a complex mixed needs special secondary school located close to the mural. The artists, Jack and Tom, wanted to try and incorporate as many of the students’ favourite things as they could. Some of the most popular pastimes included the theatre, tennis, and cartoons.

Looking to incorporate all of these aspects together, the boys came up with this design. The stage is set, the orchestra are in place, providing the score for two tennis players who dance and play around the stage with a very special guest! When asked what their favourite cartoon was, the kids unanimously voted for Pokémon. 

It is only fitting then that the special guest for the evening’s performance is the figurehead of the Pokémon brand, Pikachu! Zipping by overhead, it looks like our little friend is providing some of his electrified ability to power the whole performance!