Grantham Climate Art Prize mural unveiled at South Kensington campus

A panoramic mural that draws attention to the climate crisis has been unveiled at Imperial's South Kensington campus.

The mural, designed by Imperial student Plaifah Chaisen, highlights the need for more sustainable living.

The design was chosen by a panel of judges and was one of more than 550 submitted for this year’s Art Prize, which had the theme Design the Future: From Grey to Green – inspired by Imperial’s sustainability strategy.

Plaifah, who has just turned 19, entitled her design Viridescent Window. It has been adapted to fit the space on Dalby Court by professional mural artist Michelle Meola with assistance from Plaifah and artist Chloe Ambler, who added details including the Queen’s Tower, the Westway, the Gherkin and the Walkie Talkie.

Patrick March, Imperial’s Chief Property Officer, said: “The image Plaifah created was of a dystopian world of pollution and consumerism, one we have helped to build, and the window in the centre shows us the world we need to create so we can all live more sustainably.”

Meanwhile, four runners up have had their designs displayed around campus on BigBelly recycling, waste, food waste and rubbish bins. They are:

• Age 19 – 25 the Stewardship and Innovation Hub: Restore Nature with Nature by Cristiana Darie 

• Age 15 – 18 Let’s go back to our roots by Kescheka Rajeekaran

• Age 11 – 14 (joint runner-up) Don’t let the grey take over by Liam du Plessis
• Age 11 – 14 (joint runner-up) Between Chains and Petals by Jade Panton

Plaifah, a first-year student, says: “Viridescent Window envisions the potential of cities when innovation and sustainability are fully embraced. The window, shining light on the future, offers a glimpse of what we can become. From grey to green, the choice is ours.” 

It is the 13^th mural in the Grantham Climate Art Prize series and the first at Imperial College–the others are located across the country from Brighton to Glasgow, alongside three more in London (in Tower Hamlets, West Norwood and Nine Elms). The 14^th mural is set to appear on White City campus next year. 

The Art Prize is a biennial award from the Grantham Institute that invites young people to design murals highlighting the climate crisis and the need for action to create a more sustainable world.

This year, young people were invited to submit a vision for a more sustainable future shaped by nature-based solutions and green innovation with the urban environment in mind.

Professor Ralf Toumi, Director of the Grantham Institute, said: 

“We are delighted to have a Grantham Climate Art Prize mural at Imperial College highlighting to staff, students and visitors the wide-reaching work that the institute teams do to raise awareness on the climate crisis.

"Public art is a brilliant way to invite passers-by to stop and think about steps we can all take to achieve a more sustainable future.”

From left to right: Jane Hay, Director of Campus Operations & Deputy Chief Property Officer, with The Stewardship and Innovation Hub: Restore Nature with Nature, by Cristiane Darie; Let’s go back to our roots, by Kescheka Rajeekaran; Don’t let the grey take over, by Liam du Plessis; and Between Chains and Petals, by Jade Panton.

As well as having their mural painted on Dalby Court, the winner also received £200 in prize money and £100 worth of art materials and two books on illustration signed by former illustrator and mural artist Paul Bryn Davies, who has designed some of author Stephen King's book covers.

Meanwhile, the runners-up were awarded £150 in gift vouchers and a print of their design. This is thanks to Art Prize sponsors Future Street, Oden Computer Recycling Services and MRT Office Services. The winning design will also be shown on Oden Services' fleet of vehicles. 

The mural and runners-up will be on show to the public at the Great Exhibition Road Festival on 7 and 8 June 2025, along with:

• an art workshop in Imperial College Road hosted by professional artists for children and young people to create some collective pieces of art highlighting simple and enjoyable actions we can all take to reduce our climate footprints;

• an exhibition of the 2021 art prize, which highlights biodiversity loss as a result of climate change, on Sherfield Walkway;

• an exhibition from our 2023 art prize on Imperial College Road highlighting the 9 things you can do about climate change.

A further 15 designs received a special commendation by judges.

The Grantham Institute hopes the mural will raise awareness of the climate crisis and inspire those who pass to take action to alleviate its worse effects, allowing us to live more sustainably. The institute invited young people to take part because it is their futures that will be most affected by climate change, and therefore their aspirations that should be magnified

"When you talk to young people about climate change, it is a challenge to make it hopeful and not too frightening… but there is a therapeutic element to creating art to express and share their hopes," says Mahamood Mubarak, a participant at a Grantham Art Prize workshop. "Through this project I’ve learnt the value of art and how it complements science. Topics I spent months studying can be captured in a visually striking way that speaks to all."