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Art & Books

Saudi Artist Utilizes 500,000 Bottle Caps to Craft Stunning Mural

Saudi artist Khulood Al-Fadli, in collaboration with local environmental groups and the Jeddah municipality, has created an enormous mural using recycled plastic bottle caps. This artistic endeavor aims to combat plastic waste pollution and raise awareness about environmental issues in Saudi Arabia.

After dedicating over eight months to the project, Al-Fadli, along with volunteers, used nearly a ton of plastic waste to construct the mural. It was an occasion to celebrate as the artist was joined by local officials for the inauguration event. By repurposing plastic bottle caps, the eco-mural has prevented thousands of pieces of plastic from being discarded.

By NATALIE KEBBE

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Al-Fadli expressed her desire to create an impactful work of art that would resonate with people and inspire them to consider the environment. She described the mural as a symbol of a green Saudi Arabia, praising the country's commitment to preserving the natural world.

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The unveiling of the mural attracted a significant number of visitors to the corniche. This impressive artwork covers an area of 383 square meters and is adorned with 500,000 plastic caps. The scale of the project has even led to speculation that it could qualify for a Guinness World Record.

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Al-Fadli is no stranger to breaking records. In 2021, she claimed the Guinness World Record for creating the largest world map using plastic water caps, which spanned 250 square meters and utilized 350,000 bottle caps.

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The new mural aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, emphasizing sustainability and representing both the past and future of a green Saudi Arabia. Over the past eight months, Al-Fadli and her team undertook various steps to bring the mural to life. Plastic caps were collected through community efforts, involving students from Green Leaves School, family, friends, and numerous plastic bottle cap donors. The caps were meticulously cleaned, set in place, and finished.

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Al-Fadli's students actively participated in creating the mosaic mural, gaining valuable insights into the importance of repurposing plastic. After completing the project, the children visited the mural alongside Al-Fadli, who also serves as the school's principal. This experience further reinforced their understanding of environmental sustainability, as they have been involved in other projects such as beach clean-ups, landscaping in public parks, and the record-breaking world map in 2021.

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Looking ahead, Al-Fadli expressed her commitment to continuing to raise awareness and engage the community in reusing plastic. While her future projects have yet to be decided, she is certain that they will involve the participation of the community and focus on the reuse of plastic materials.