A Live Performance Mural: Ola Volo's Masterpiece Unveiled at London's Grand Theatre

Outdoor art enthusiasts and curious passersby are in for a treat this week! Kazakh-Canadian artist Ola Volo is transforming the Grand Theatre's exterior with a stunning mural at the corner of Richmond and Dufferin streets, in the heart of London, ON.

Volo's mural, covering an 18 by 16-metre wall, captures a vivid narrative featuring a regal queen representing Mother Nature and a large dove symbolizing new beginnings. Highlighted with stage light effects and lightning bolts, the mural is a nod to theatrical grandeur and natural power.

Around the mural's edges, trilliums, Ontario's official flower, add a local touch. Volo’s lofty aim: to create a piece that radiates confidence and visibility.

London’s Grand Theatre has had dreams of this mural adorning their stage door wall for nearly a decade. Lyndee Hansen, the theatre’s executive director, is thrilled to see it come to life. 'We’ve always envisioned this blank canvas filled with art,' she says.

Adding to the allure, Londoners can watch Volo paint this colossal artwork in real-time, likened to a performance piece itself. The mural has become a dynamic spectator sport in downtown – more thrilling than your average street art.

Volo finds joy in live audience participation, appreciating the energy brought by onlookers, including those who return to witness different stages of her creative process. 'It’s a bit like being on stage,' Volo admits, as she maneuvers her lift in the parking lot.

According to Hansen, seeing Volo’s sketch come to life on such a massive scale transforms it into something extraordinary. It’s an experience unmatched by seeing mere drawings.

For Volo, painting this mural is a performance that demands a certain comfort level with public visibility, including embracing mistakes. She hopes her process inspires other artists to see the beauty in their own 'bones behind the artwork.'

Montreal-based Volo started her muralism journey at age 21, drawing from Eastern European folklore and the natural beauty she encountered while studying in Vancouver. Her unique style, now coloring London’s landscape, began as a reaction to the absence of such art in public spaces.

Volo’s hope is that her mural will spark a wave of muralism throughout London. She envisions the city's walls as vast canvases ripe for transformation. 'As I meet more people, it’s clear London is a creative hub, and I hope my work encourages budding artists to claim their space on the streets.'

So, whether you're an art lover or simply strolling through downtown London, don’t miss this opportunity to witness urban creativity in action. Take a moment to appreciate Ola Volo’s vibrant mural – a testimony to the city’s evolving artistic spirit.