^ EcoArt: Paint Nature on Old, Ugly Walls

EcoArt

Paint Nature on Old, Ugly Walls

"Make a forest grow on dead concrete;

in our hearts, joy and reverence." - avr

Wall Murals painted by Dr Abe V Rotor

A child from the neighborhood delights in hugging a make-believe 

concrete tree before a wall mural background painted by the author 

at his residence in QC Metro Manila

The magic of art is transformation:

ugly to beautiful,

ruthless to kindness,

useless to valuable,

aesthetic to functional,

dull to creative,

academic to practical,

prosaic to expressive,

static to dynamic,

passive to active

fantastic to realistic,

inertia to momentum,

ad infinitum.

"We build too many walls and not enough forests." 

(A nature-inspired twist on Isaac Newton's famous bridge quote)

Cover the scars of the city with the wildness of the earth.

Concrete can bleed, but concrete can also bloom.

Abandoned walls, visible and invisible,

disturb our peace, but who cares?

The essence of mythology and history,

 forgotten in time and space.

Relics and ruins these walls stand for,

affront to dignity and beauty;

cruel to the eye, fateful and uncaring,  

waking up our guardian's  duty.

Outer side is replica of the inner side,

like Blake's analogy of a dog 

starving at its master's gate predicts

the ruin of state, a prologue.

Art, art, wake up to this urgent call,

cover the scars of indifference,

make a forest grow on dead concrete,

in our hearts, joy and reverence.

"Imagine a city where everyone could draw whatever they liked... 

awash with a million colors." — Adapted from Banksy, a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist, and film director. He has never publicly confirmed his identity.

Bring home the stream, valley, trees 

filled with birds and breeze;

art, for thou art sacred and beautiful,

to these children after school.

"Painting from nature is not copying the object, it’s realizing one’s sensations."

— Paul Cézanne (French Impressionist painter)

   Old wall transformed into waterfall,

      for birds to gather from the sky,

   abode in the wildlife like our home,

     all creatures that crawl and fly.

"If you can paint one leaf, you can paint the world." 

— John Ruskin, an English polymath – a writer, lecturer, 

art historian, art critic, draughtsman and philanthropist. Wikipedia

Picnic by a wall mural of nature,

game and make-believe gesture.

"Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty." — John Muir,

"Father of the National Parks", a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. Wikipedia

Imagine the wall, bare and empty,

without these kids, jolly and happy.

"To the artist there is never anything ugly in nature." — Auguste Rodin

(French sculptor generally considered the founder of modern sculpture.)

*Painting a nature mural on a cracked, weathered, or "ugly" wall is a powerful act of transformation. It uses the organic textures of decay to breathe new life into a space.

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ANNEX: AI Overview

Meaning of “Paint Nature on Old, Ugly Walls” 

in Dr. Abercio V. Rotor’s Works

Living with Nature - School on Blog

In Dr. Abercio V. Rotor’s context, “paint nature on old, ugly walls” is a metaphor for transforming the environment — both physical and symbolic — through the infusion of natural beauty, cultural heritage, and ecological awareness.

Literal meaning: On a practical level, it refers to the act of decorating or beautifying worn, deteriorated, or unattractive walls with depictions of nature. This could be through murals, paintings, or other artistic interventions that introduce greenery, landscapes, and natural motifs into spaces that have become dull, damaged, or visually harsh.  

Symbolic meaning in Rotor’s work 

In Rotor’s writings and public activities, such as his Living with Nature Center projects, this phrase also carries deeper layers:

Restoring harmony: Just as painting over an “old, ugly wall” improves its appearance, bringing nature into a space restores balance and beauty to the environment, counteracting the “ugliness” of neglect, pollution, or urban decay.

Cultural and ecological reconnection: Rotor often emphasizes indigenous knowledge, folk wisdom, and the integration of nature into daily life. Painting nature on walls is a way of embedding these values into the built environment, making them visible and tangible for the community.

Hope and transformation: The “old, ugly walls” symbolize the challenges of modern life — environmental degradation, loss of tradition, and the “eye strain” of overstimulating, artificial surroundings. The act of painting nature over them represents hope, renewal, and the possibility of healing both the landscape and the human spirit.

Art as education: In Rotor’s educational and community work, such murals serve as visual storytelling tools to inspire environmental stewardship, cultural pride, and a renewed connection to the natural world. 

In summary: For Dr. Rotor, “paint nature on old, ugly walls” is both a literal artistic act and a metaphor for ecological and cultural renewal — turning spaces of neglect into vibrant, life-affirming environments that remind people of the beauty, resilience, and interconnectedness of the natural world. It reflects his broader mission to blend art, education, and environmental awareness to heal and inspire communities. ~

I paint flowers so they will not die." — Frida Kahlo,

(Mexican painter whose works were greatly inspired by nature and artifacts of Mexico.)