Own the culture through street art in BGC

Kara Santos

3 years ago

Looking for a colorful new landmark to ride to in the city?

There’s a brand new mural in BGC that depicts the vital role motorcycles play in bridging our society together during these uncertain times.

In partnership with the Bonifacio Art Foundation, Yamaha Motor Philippines recently unveiled a huge 45 x 80 foot mural on the side of W Global Center, an 8-story building located at the corner of 30th Street and 9th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

I checked out the mural for myself on an easy Sunday morning ride with a review unit of the Yamaha Mio i125.

After weeks just riding just within the neighborhood for errands like laundry and picking up food, it felt great to dress up and go somewhere different just for a quick change of scenery. With all the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, sometimes just enjoying the breeze on the road and seeing something new is just what you need to feel refreshed and ready to take on the week ahead.

With travel still limited and places to enjoy art (such as museums) still closed, being able to appreciate art in public spaces can really help boost one’s mood. For bikers and joggers who live nearby, or motorcycle riders on a breakfast ride or those want to run their engines a bit during this pandemic period, BGC’s murals always make colorful backdrops for photos.

If you happen to be visiting the BGC area, the building’s location is highly visible, making it an easy detour to snap some IG photos. The Mio Mural is a cool addition to the vibrant street art scene that BGC is known for.

What’s your culture?

The artwork created by visual artist Glenford Lumbao features Yamaha’s popular Mio line of Automatic Motorcycles. Dubbed “Own The Culture,” the Mio Mural was designed to resemble a montage of narratives celebrating the different backgrounds and cultures we belong to.

Each section of the mural shows different Yamaha Mio models in various scenarios representing distinct, modern subcultures, portrayed by a VR gamer, adrenaline junkie, artist, fashionista, and chef.

The eye-catching mural by Lumbao’s uses shapes, patterns, and color gradients, to weave a unique, textile-like quality. The mural captures the vibrant spirit of Yamaha’s Mio line and represents different cultures embodied by Mio riders, specifically:

Mio Sporty – a Culture of Distinction
Mio i125 – a Culture of Trend and Style
Mio Soul i25 – a Culture of Fierce Authenticity
Mio Gravis – a Culture of Refined Versatility
Mio Aerox -a Culture of Unrivaled Precision
Mio Gear – a Culture of Toughness and Diversity

According to the artist: “Arts and design helped me cope during the pandemic because it gave me an avenue to continue exploring even if we’re confined.”

Check out the video below to learn more about how this unique artwork came to life.

Mobility in the new normal

The pandemic has really disrupted people’s lifestyles, how we work, and what we can look forward to during the weekends. More people are shifting to convenient, less expensive forms of individual transport, such as motorcycles and scooters, for mobility.

With the hassles of public transportation, automatic motorcycles can provide a safer way for people to get around, both for work and for leisure travel.

For those privileged to be working from home, the reliance on the riding community, especially through food, on-demand delivery, and motorcycle taxi services, has become vital. Delivery riders are among the pandemic’s frontliners.

Yamaha’s Mio mural reminds us of how everyone in our society, regardless of our background, is connected. The mural also shows that whatever your style or purpose for riding is, you’re sure to find a Mio that will appeal to you.