South Africa Art: One of Cape Town's biggest murals debuts in the CBD

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01:55

To South Africa where one of Cape Town's largest art murals is gracing the side of an inner city building, as part of an early extension billboard for the Third International Public Art Festival taking place in the city next year. CGTN's Travers Andrews has this report.

There's are new hound on the block and this pooch is as big as they get. A dog with an aviator hat and goggles is a new mural that is amongst the largest the Mother City has seen. Belgian street artist Bart Smeets spent more than a week, painting the 400 square meter mural of the side of a building in the historical Harrington Street and is meant to elevate one's imagination.

BART SMEETS STREET ARTIST "The concept of murals is that in totally free to do what I want, I don't get paid for it but I can do whatever I want, I mostly paint animals and children and I create a kind of an image and small story behind so that people can make up their own story."

Over 100 spray cans were used to paint the giant mural which forms part of a billboard commissioned by NGO Baz-Art, to highlight the upcoming International Public Arts Festival. Smeets painted his masterpiece while being hoisted for the entire week on a crane, it's incredible detail even from far off though, has not gone unnoticed.

TRAVERS ANDREWS CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA "There are many other striking murals around the city but the sheer scale of this one makes it impossible for passers-by to ignore."

"I think it's incredible, I think it suits the area up and coming and all of that and the renovations, I've never seen something like this, it's absolutely superb."

"I think it's amazing, I haven't worked in this street for the last two and a half years but I think it really contributes to the overall feel of what this street is about to become."

So there's a new dog in town and this one is likely to stay as kind of the Mother City's murals, for quite some time. Travers Andrews, CGTN, Cape Town.