ARRIVAL LOUNGE
NEWCOMER’S BRUSH WITH FAME
Mayuresh Ambedkar spent a month creating a mural the size of a bus on a third-floor space at the Richmond, BC, campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
From KPU
What started as a dream for Mayuresh Ambekar is now an enormous artistic addition to the Richmond campus of Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
Ambekar, who graduated from KPU’s Entertainment Arts as an international student, spent a month creating a mural the size of a bus outside the department’s third-floor space.
“I’ve been planning and dreaming about this mural since the day I enrolled in the university,” says Ambekar, who earned a diploma in advanced VFX (virtual production) in 2023. “I’ve always wanted to paint a mural in the campus where I’m studying.”
Ambekar drew creative inspiration from the Arcane anime TV series. “The two portraits of Jinx, a character from Arcane, capture her spirit and the collaborative effort behind production, similar to how each student contributes unique talents to a project. Through this mural, I aimed to honour both the show and the creative process, reflecting the journey from concept to execution, which parallels the educational path at KPU,” he says.
Ambekar was a mural artist for over 10 years in India before moving to Vancouver. Since then, he’s been painting murals around the city as well as working with the Vancouver Mural Festival.
“I’ve painted roughly 25 to 30 murals here in Vancouver but I was not the lead artist on them. I was usually managing the production, supporting mural artists and looking after the technical things,” explained Ambekar.
The KPU mural, measuring 6.1 metres long and 2.4 metres high, was Ambekar’s first time being a lead artist on a large-scale project, responsible for everything from designing to painting.
“As an immigrant in a new country, landing major projects as a lead artist can be challenging, especially when most roles are limited to production painting. But this project is truly unique and meaningful. My hope is that it motivates students to explore their potential and embrace the challenges and rewards of their artistic journeys,” he says.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has served the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 learners. Based at five campuses across Richmond, Surrey and Langley, KPU offers a comprehensive range of sought-after programs in business, arts, design, health, science and horticulture, trades and technology, and academic and career advancement. Around 20,000 students annually choose one of its wide selection of programs that blend thought with action, including bachelor’s degrees, diplomas, certificates, apprenticeships and graduate diplomas.
More at kpu.ca.
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