The man below

Not every day you get the chance to paint a London double-decker bus 🇬🇧🎨

This former London bus is now part of the incredible open-air street art museum @Stratford_Junction, where around 50 double-deckers have been transformed by artists from around the world. Every bus tells its own story, together creating a one-of-a-kind urban art experience.

Proud to have my work become part of this amazing collection. Thanks to @dave_plants for the invitation!

At its core, this painting represents:

THE MAN BELOW

– From Coal to Steel –

This artwork is inspired by my dad, Bert Debie (1942, now 84), who spent several years working 895 m (2935 ft) beneath the surface in the Dutch coal mines of Geleen before they closed in the late 1960s. His story is deeply personal, yet shared by countless underground workers around the world.

For generations, men and women worked in darkness, surrounded by dust, rock, clay and steel. Their work remained unseen, yet it laid the foundations for the world above: connecting people, powering industries and helping cities grow.

Although Bert started his career in the Dutch coal mines, this portrait is a tribute to every underground worker whose craftsmanship, resilience and determination helped shape the modern world. The transformation from miner to tunnel worker symbolizes a shared history that transcends borders, built on dedication, endurance and pride.

A small canary accompanies Bert throughout the artwork. Once used in both Dutch and British mines to warn of invisible danger, it now becomes a symbol of hope, resilience and the search for light, reminding us that even in the deepest darkness, hope has always had wings.

From the coal mines of Geleen to the Underground tunnels beneath London, progress has always been built from below.

This artwork is dedicated to the unseen people whose work made life above ground possible.

Different places. Same courage. One history.

@marcusgomaddebie @streetartatlas

#DoubleDecker #MuralArt  #PublicArt #OpenAirMuseum #LondonstreetArt