Elléna Lourens, born and raised in South Africa, began her artistic journey both on a personal and collaborative basis while in school. Her artwork includes illustrations, street art, painting, and embroidery, with each relating to the past through the representation of ancient symbols, patterns and colour schemes. She seeks to redefine emotional iconography and immerses herself in the creative world which has triumphantly led to both local and international showcases.

“I have surrounded the piece with kelp, which creates the environment in which the design is situated, and shows the life in the ocean which needs preserving, without having it morbidly represented,” the artist describes the theme of her piece.

The plant life aspect of her design brings beauty into the piece, and back into the space, once again showing the beauty that CAN exist in the natural world, juxtaposing it to the unnatural that we’re so often surrounded by. In addition, Elléna highlights the fact that saving the ocean is the first and biggest step to saving our ocean by clever use of wording at the top of the mural.