Introduction
The Solar Mural is a project that combines community public artwork with cutting edge photovoltaic technology to create a new cultural landamark for the people of Reading.
Our artwork, co-created by volunteers from the wider Reading community, serves as a “public square”. This interactive, multisensorial experience enables passers-by to engage in a conversation with themselves, each other and with the artwork itself. The artwork will be completed with the addition of four specially crafted solar panels that will host part of the design. The result will be an interactive cultural community landmark also able to generate energy.
We hope to create a space where people, nature and technology can co-exist in harmony, without damaging each other. We aim to nurture the vision that creating such places is possible, is beneficial and could be replicated in other contexts. We envisage this prototype paving the way for the co-creation of further Solar Murals in the town of Reading and beyond.
Our artwork, co-created by volunteers from the wider Reading community, serves as a “public square”. This interactive, multisensorial experience enables passers-by to engage in a conversation with themselves, each other and with the artwork itself. The artwork will be completed with the addition of four specially crafted solar panels that will host part of the design. The result will be an interactive cultural community landmark also able to generate energy.
We hope to create a space where people, nature and technology can co-exist in harmony, without damaging each other. We aim to nurture the vision that creating such places is possible, is beneficial and could be replicated in other contexts. We envisage this prototype paving the way for the co-creation of further Solar Murals in the town of Reading and beyond.
Quick facts
Artwork composed of 12 large format painted aluminium composite panels forming a monumental polychrome stela.
Thanks to sensors, passers-by will be able to trigger a LED animation on the painted panels, looped with a bespoke soundtrack.
Four decorated solar panels mounted around the painted panels, forming a metaphorical public square.
Prompts encourage conversations around sustainable energy production, solidarity, inclusion and harmony with nature.
Artwork
The design is based on the concept that we, as humans, have been gathering around a metaphorical fire for millions of years to tell other humans stories of how to survive and thrive as a community.
So we imagined what could be the stories that we would need to keep telling ourselves to be able to "navigate" life and keep going. As stars helped sailors to explore the world, we imagined new constellations that could help us navigate as a community - that's why the sailor kid is pointing at the stars, surrounded by other kids of all ages of humankind - and since we're one with nature, the trees and fungi are listening and participating to the conversation as well, sending signals through their roots and creating a circle of knowledge that will be represented by the illuminated LEDs. Each day of the week will have a different constellation appearing in the sky above the characters, and the panels around the design work as a key.
Please note that the arrangement of the panels is shown differently compared to the mock-up above just to ease the readability of the description.
So we imagined what could be the stories that we would need to keep telling ourselves to be able to "navigate" life and keep going. As stars helped sailors to explore the world, we imagined new constellations that could help us navigate as a community - that's why the sailor kid is pointing at the stars, surrounded by other kids of all ages of humankind - and since we're one with nature, the trees and fungi are listening and participating to the conversation as well, sending signals through their roots and creating a circle of knowledge that will be represented by the illuminated LEDs. Each day of the week will have a different constellation appearing in the sky above the characters, and the panels around the design work as a key.
Please note that the arrangement of the panels is shown differently compared to the mock-up above just to ease the readability of the description.
New constellations
- The Food Forest - Monday
It stands for the Commons, for working together in harmony with nature and creating shared resources for the community.
- The Maypole - Tuesday
It stands for communal celebrations, for communities coming together and taking time to mark significant events and anniversaries. It stands for breaking away from the obsession with productivity and taking time to play, and laugh and enjoy life.
- The Traveller - Wednesday
It stands for hospitality and solidarity, for taking the stranger in and treating all humans as fellows, but also for the joy of exploring a world remade.
- The Horn Of Plenty - Thursday
It stands for sharing the abundance that has been created by working together.
- The Library - Friday
Whether it lends books, or tools or toys, it stands for sharing knowledge and the ways of putting this knowledge into practice so that they are accessible to all. It stands against all hoarding and paywalling.
- The Tree of Life - Saturday
It symbolises the new relationship between humans and the rest of nature in the new world, showing that we're inextricably linked together, like trees in a forest.
- The Joined Hands - Sunday
After the alienation of the neoliberal capitalist society, the Joined Hands proclaim the central role of solidarity, cooperation and empathy in creating a way of life that is made for human needs and human flourishing. We join hands, and help each other. Nothing human is alien to us. We flourish together.
- The Food Forest - Monday
It stands for the Commons, for working together in harmony with nature and creating shared resources for the community.
- The Maypole - Tuesday
It stands for communal celebrations, for communities coming together and taking time to mark significant events and anniversaries. It stands for breaking away from the obsession with productivity and taking time to play, and laugh and enjoy life.
- The Traveller - Wednesday
It stands for hospitality and solidarity, for taking the stranger in and treating all humans as fellows, but also for the joy of exploring a world remade.
- The Horn Of Plenty - Thursday
It stands for sharing the abundance that has been created by working together.
- The Library - Friday
Whether it lends books, or tools or toys, it stands for sharing knowledge and the ways of putting this knowledge into practice so that they are accessible to all. It stands against all hoarding and paywalling.
- The Tree of Life - Saturday
It symbolises the new relationship between humans and the rest of nature in the new world, showing that we're inextricably linked together, like trees in a forest.
- The Joined Hands - Sunday
After the alienation of the neoliberal capitalist society, the Joined Hands proclaim the central role of solidarity, cooperation and empathy in creating a way of life that is made for human needs and human flourishing. We join hands, and help each other. Nothing human is alien to us. We flourish together.
Artwork main features
- The characters belong to different ages of mankind, symbolizing the fact that stories unite humans beyond the constrains of time.
-
Nature is represented by the trees and by the fungi that connects them, creating a circular composition where the sky and the earth touch each other.
Solar Panels
We will be using a unique kind of solar panel: ColorBlast Design panels by Kameleon Solar, a pioneering technology being developed in Roosendaal, The Netherlands.
The panels that we will be using have a standard size of 1m x 1,70 m and they are incredibly interesting from an expressive point of view as they allow designers to effectively use them as part of their artwork. In terms of technology, ColorBlast modules are colored solar panels with a digitally printed front glass containing highly durable inks positioned in a hexagonal pattern. After the glass undergoes the tempering process, these designed panels are water-resistant and scratch-proof, with a color fastness and a lifespan of more than 50 years. To generate energy, the light passes through the first layer containing the print and hits the solar cells underneath, which in turn work exactly as regular solar cells.
These panels are less efficient than the normal silicon panels that we can easily spot on buildings, but will provide more than enough electricity for the needs of our installation. So much so, that we will also have a storage battery where we will be able to keep the excess of the production.
Following you can see some examples of application of this technology
The panels that we will be using have a standard size of 1m x 1,70 m and they are incredibly interesting from an expressive point of view as they allow designers to effectively use them as part of their artwork. In terms of technology, ColorBlast modules are colored solar panels with a digitally printed front glass containing highly durable inks positioned in a hexagonal pattern. After the glass undergoes the tempering process, these designed panels are water-resistant and scratch-proof, with a color fastness and a lifespan of more than 50 years. To generate energy, the light passes through the first layer containing the print and hits the solar cells underneath, which in turn work exactly as regular solar cells.
These panels are less efficient than the normal silicon panels that we can easily spot on buildings, but will provide more than enough electricity for the needs of our installation. So much so, that we will also have a storage battery where we will be able to keep the excess of the production.
Following you can see some examples of application of this technology
Interactivity
The Solar Mural will not just be an artwork to be viewed, but it will also be interactive, giving the chance to people to engage with the installation and feel part of it, creating a dialogue with it, exactly as the characters represented in the design.
Thanks to PIR sensors, people will be able to interact with the installation, activating LEDs positioned in alignment with the stars on the upper part of the artwork and on the roots and on the mycelium in the lower part. Together with the lights, a soundtrack will also play and each day of the week will feature a different pairing of music and constellation, making the experience of playing with the installation always different and interesting.
Thanks to PIR sensors, people will be able to interact with the installation, activating LEDs positioned in alignment with the stars on the upper part of the artwork and on the roots and on the mycelium in the lower part. Together with the lights, a soundtrack will also play and each day of the week will feature a different pairing of music and constellation, making the experience of playing with the installation always different and interesting.
LEDs
A different constellation will be shown for each day of the week and they will all appear in the same dedicated section of the artwork. The LEDs will share a matrix of 50 LEDs that will light up accordingly to the instructions that we will provide with a Raspberry PI set. On the roots and on the mycelium, the LEDs will not vary depending on the day of the week. All the lights will flicker gently and will act as they are part of a natural organism. They will be switched on in sequence, showing an animation that will start on the constellations and will end on the roots, reinforcing the “circular dialogue” narrative that is at the basis of the Solar Mural. On the left you can see our constellations LED matrix. Each fully opaque circle corresponds to a star/LED and the majority of them are shared between various constellations.
A different constellation will be shown for each day of the week and they will all appear in the same dedicated section of the artwork. The LEDs will share a matrix of 50 LEDs that will light up accordingly to the instructions that we will provide with a Raspberry PI set. On the roots and on the mycelium, the LEDs will not vary depending on the day of the week. All the lights will flicker gently and will act as they are part of a natural organism. They will be switched on in sequence, showing an animation that will start on the constellations and will end on the roots, reinforcing the “circular dialogue” narrative that is at the basis of the Solar Mural. On the left you can see our constellations LED matrix. Each fully opaque circle corresponds to a star/LED and the majority of them are shared between various constellations.
Music
Producer, Sound Designer and Musician DNoise will provide the soundtrack for each one of the constellations, effectively allowing the installation to look and sound different every day of the week. The artist is developing tracks that are deeply connected with the star charts, using organic and natural sounds, recording and modifying sounds of nature like the ones of animals or the rustling of leaves and combining them with electronic sounds.
Following you can listen to a few of these tracks. Please keep in mind that they are still work in progress at this point:
Producer, Sound Designer and Musician DNoise will provide the soundtrack for each one of the constellations, effectively allowing the installation to look and sound different every day of the week. The artist is developing tracks that are deeply connected with the star charts, using organic and natural sounds, recording and modifying sounds of nature like the ones of animals or the rustling of leaves and combining them with electronic sounds.
Following you can listen to a few of these tracks. Please keep in mind that they are still work in progress at this point:
Where we’re doing it: New Directions College
New
Directions College is the largest ACL provider in Berkshire and is built
on a 67yr history of providing adult and community learning in Reading
and supports
over 1600 adults across the borough.
Their aim is to provide outstanding skills and community learning that meets the needs of learners, communities, and local employers. The College has been an integral part of the community since 1958, by providing adult education in Reading.
Their aim is to provide outstanding skills and community learning that meets the needs of learners, communities, and local employers. The College has been an integral part of the community since 1958, by providing adult education in Reading.
To learn more about New Directions College, please follow this link: https://www.newdirectionsreading.ac.uk/
Rossella KenchMarketing and Publicity Officer at New Directions College
We have asked Rossella what it would mean for the College to host and collaborate with us in the creation of this project:
“A Solar Mural at New Directions College would be a truly inspiring addition to our garden and wider learning community.
Not only would it create a striking visual feature, but it would also bring together learners, staff, and local residents through hands-on workshops and shared creativity.
This project perfectly reflects the College’s values of learning, sustainability, and community engagement—showing how art and technology can work together to create something meaningful. As a practical learning tool, the mural would spark conversations about renewable energy, environmental responsibility, and the importance of working together to shape a better future. Its interactive elements would bring joy and curiosity to those visiting the garden, while the collaborative design process would give our learners and community members a real sense of pride and ownership. It’s an opportunity to make the College garden not just a place of learning, but a space that inspires connection, creativity, and action.”
We have asked Rossella what it would mean for the College to host and collaborate with us in the creation of this project:
“A Solar Mural at New Directions College would be a truly inspiring addition to our garden and wider learning community.
Not only would it create a striking visual feature, but it would also bring together learners, staff, and local residents through hands-on workshops and shared creativity.
This project perfectly reflects the College’s values of learning, sustainability, and community engagement—showing how art and technology can work together to create something meaningful. As a practical learning tool, the mural would spark conversations about renewable energy, environmental responsibility, and the importance of working together to shape a better future. Its interactive elements would bring joy and curiosity to those visiting the garden, while the collaborative design process would give our learners and community members a real sense of pride and ownership. It’s an opportunity to make the College garden not just a place of learning, but a space that inspires connection, creativity, and action.”
How we’re doing it: the painting process
As local residents and users, we recognise that New Directions College is an important space of exchange and sociality which is used by Reading’s diverse ecosystem of communities. It is therefore very important to make sure that the people using that space feel included in the design and are proud of the artwork.
In our experience this is much more likely to happen if people “have a hand” in the making of the artwork and therefore feel a sense of “ownership” towards it.
This approach has worked very well in all our public art previous projects: Reading Hydro, Holy Brook Nook, the Market Tree and Some Serious Play. Many of the volunteers of Reading Hydro then went on to work on all our successive projects because of the satisfaction and sense of community. Working together has started many friendships among the community of volunteers, and two people who met at Holy Brook Nook are now married.
Additionally, the outreach embedded in making art in public spaces can engage all manners of bystanders. During the Holy Brook Nook projects we had many positive interactions with local residents, some of whom lent equipment and reference materials for the project, and many repeat visitors who stopped by regularly on the way to or from work or school. Such a community of interested people is a blessing, as their presence discourages vandalism or reports it promptly so it can be remediated.
We aim for this artwork to be about the local community, for the local community, and as much as possible also created by the local community.
In our experience this is much more likely to happen if people “have a hand” in the making of the artwork and therefore feel a sense of “ownership” towards it.
This approach has worked very well in all our public art previous projects: Reading Hydro, Holy Brook Nook, the Market Tree and Some Serious Play. Many of the volunteers of Reading Hydro then went on to work on all our successive projects because of the satisfaction and sense of community. Working together has started many friendships among the community of volunteers, and two people who met at Holy Brook Nook are now married.
Additionally, the outreach embedded in making art in public spaces can engage all manners of bystanders. During the Holy Brook Nook projects we had many positive interactions with local residents, some of whom lent equipment and reference materials for the project, and many repeat visitors who stopped by regularly on the way to or from work or school. Such a community of interested people is a blessing, as their presence discourages vandalism or reports it promptly so it can be remediated.
We aim for this artwork to be about the local community, for the local community, and as much as possible also created by the local community.
Co-Creation and Engagement philosophy
1
First, we will hold two half-day workshops in New Directions College and work with members of the public to decide what other animals and plants should be visible in the artwork. The new natural elements can be suggestions based on local wildlife, or they can be more metaphorical, symbolising aspects of people’s experience of life in Reading and of their interactions with New Directions College. The ideas will be collected and implemented in the design, ready to be painted.
2
Then, we will run participative co-creation workshops where the public will be able to get their hands dirty and help paint the artwork. We will use DiBond panels (aluminum composite panels) as a substrate and our tried and tested method of artwork creation, which has enabled a diverse participation during our previous projects without sacrificing finished quality. The panels will be protected with a tested non-sacrificial anti-graffiti coating, to protect and preserve the artwork.
Our community painting method is based on techniques used by Reinassance masters, merged with a “paint by numbers” approach that makes absolutely anyone able to participate. Thanks to this method, we have been able to paint indiscriminately with volunteers that have an art background as well as with people that never touched a brush before.
Our community painting method is based on techniques used by Reinassance masters, merged with a “paint by numbers” approach that makes absolutely anyone able to participate. Thanks to this method, we have been able to paint indiscriminately with volunteers that have an art background as well as with people that never touched a brush before.
A few images showing the process of co-creation and painting with volunteers
How we’re doing it: the installation process
The installation will be carried over by qualified personnel with decades of experience and we’re expecting it to take one day to install all the panels plus another day for the cabling and setting up of the interactive components.
We will be screwing the DiBond panels on the wall, carefully placing the screws only on the mortar in between the bricks in order to avoid damage to the wall, in case the installation would need to be moved in the future. Each panel will be secured to the wall by 8 security screws (a special screwdriver will be required to detach the panels from the wall). We will also screw metal stud frames on the wall at the sides of the DiBond panels to install the solar panels (2 studs per solar panel for a total of 8 studs). They will be secured and kept in position by clips and invisible brackets at their top and bottom (4 clips per solar panel, 2 above and 2 below, for a total of 16 clips). The space behind the panels will be enough to comfortably house all the wiring needed.
At the base of the painted panels, we will also install a ledge and a control box that will contain all the electrical components, including the speakers, the PIR sensor and the Arduino controllers. It will also work as a cable tray and it will be secured and IP rated for wet areas, to prevent damage from vandalism and / or adverse weather conditions.
We will be screwing the DiBond panels on the wall, carefully placing the screws only on the mortar in between the bricks in order to avoid damage to the wall, in case the installation would need to be moved in the future. Each panel will be secured to the wall by 8 security screws (a special screwdriver will be required to detach the panels from the wall). We will also screw metal stud frames on the wall at the sides of the DiBond panels to install the solar panels (2 studs per solar panel for a total of 8 studs). They will be secured and kept in position by clips and invisible brackets at their top and bottom (4 clips per solar panel, 2 above and 2 below, for a total of 16 clips). The space behind the panels will be enough to comfortably house all the wiring needed.
At the base of the painted panels, we will also install a ledge and a control box that will contain all the electrical components, including the speakers, the PIR sensor and the Arduino controllers. It will also work as a cable tray and it will be secured and IP rated for wet areas, to prevent damage from vandalism and / or adverse weather conditions.
Cabling and electrical components
The diagram on the left shows you how we intend to organize the wiring coming from the solar panels, together with the sound speakers, the PIR sensor and the Arduino controllers. All the electrical components will be stored in the control box shown here, Including the storage battery, the cables coming from the LEDs and from the solar panels, the solar charge contoller and the inverter. Even though the diagram is simplified, the elements are shown in proportions.
As a precaution, we will be installing double LEDs, so if for any reason one of them fails, the other one can still function before the repair work is done (double redundancy). As a back-up measure, we will also set up a 12 Volt supply coming from the host, in the remote case that the stored or generated energy won’t be sufficient.
A qualified electrician will check and certificate the whole installation, insuring its safety.
The diagram on the left shows you how we intend to organize the wiring coming from the solar panels, together with the sound speakers, the PIR sensor and the Arduino controllers. All the electrical components will be stored in the control box shown here, Including the storage battery, the cables coming from the LEDs and from the solar panels, the solar charge contoller and the inverter. Even though the diagram is simplified, the elements are shown in proportions.
As a precaution, we will be installing double LEDs, so if for any reason one of them fails, the other one can still function before the repair work is done (double redundancy). As a back-up measure, we will also set up a 12 Volt supply coming from the host, in the remote case that the stored or generated energy won’t be sufficient.
A qualified electrician will check and certificate the whole installation, insuring its safety.
Why we’re doing it
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
Many of the volunteers that helped us design, paint and install our public artworks have expressed the desire to do more. For them, contributing to this kind of project represents a beneficial activity, therapeutic to the point that some of the volunteers where advides from their GP to participate in our activity. While some find it just a sooting or meditative activity, to which they can dedicate a few moments or several hours every day, activities like painting with us has a positive impact on mental health and we would love to re-create the safe space that people of Reading enjoyed so much.
Our project is also meant to be a showcase for new sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to the climate crisis. Since we believe that cities can be the real game changers in the fight for Climate Change, we intend to use Kameleon Solar pv panels in a prominent, visible location, where citizens can see and understand that clean energy generation is possible, can be diffused and spread everywhere in the city, and can be beautiful and meaningful as well, contributing to the culture of a place, while also generating more practical and tangible value - like electricity.
Why work with us?
indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
Many of the volunteers that helped us design, paint and install our public artworks have expressed the desire to do more. For them, contributing to this kind of project represents a beneficial activity, therapeutic to the point that some of the volunteers where advides from their GP to participate in our activity. While some find it just a sooting or meditative activity, to which they can dedicate a few moments or several hours every day, activities like painting with us has a positive impact on mental health and we would love to re-create the safe space that people of Reading enjoyed so much.
Our project is also meant to be a showcase for new sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions to the climate crisis. Since we believe that cities can be the real game changers in the fight for Climate Change, we intend to use Kameleon Solar pv panels in a prominent, visible location, where citizens can see and understand that clean energy generation is possible, can be diffused and spread everywhere in the city, and can be beautiful and meaningful as well, contributing to the culture of a place, while also generating more practical and tangible value - like electricity.
Why work with us?
Experience of managing large-scale
multi-stakeholder projects.
multi-stakeholder projects.
Technical implementation with state-of-the-art solutions.
Community Co-Creation without compromising on quality.
Delivery of flagship public art for Reading, celebrated at an international level.
Who is the Commando?
We are a solarpunk creative collective with members both in Italy and in the UK. We do projects in which we merge technology and art with the idea of transforming the city in its sustainable version.
Simultaneously, our projects also focus on co-designing solutions with local communities, to stimulate a just transition that can spark from the ground up.
We believe that imagination is a transformative force, so we also write and illustrate stories and other works of fiction that can help people envision their sustainable future. Our short stories and illustrations appeared in anthologies and publications on the web and all around the globe: USA, Australia, UK, Spain, and Italy. We have also held workshops and lectures on solarpunk and speculative design in the Universities of Cambridge, Moscow and in Milano as well, and we proudly coordinated and contributed in projects and festivals in Milano (Italy), Reading (UK) and Bruxelles (Belgium), always with the idea of helping to create a solarpunk world.
Simultaneously, our projects also focus on co-designing solutions with local communities, to stimulate a just transition that can spark from the ground up.
We believe that imagination is a transformative force, so we also write and illustrate stories and other works of fiction that can help people envision their sustainable future. Our short stories and illustrations appeared in anthologies and publications on the web and all around the globe: USA, Australia, UK, Spain, and Italy. We have also held workshops and lectures on solarpunk and speculative design in the Universities of Cambridge, Moscow and in Milano as well, and we proudly coordinated and contributed in projects and festivals in Milano (Italy), Reading (UK) and Bruxelles (Belgium), always with the idea of helping to create a solarpunk world.
Guglielmo Miccolupi
Art & Creative Director,
projects coordinator
Art & Creative Director,
projects coordinator
Laura C Z Domingues
PhD, Research Scientist,
technology expert
+ Other Members
That collaborate on a project basis,
like musicians, technicians, historians, etc.
PhD, Research Scientist,
technology expert
+ Other Members
That collaborate on a project basis,
like musicians, technicians, historians, etc.
Our vision of a just transition
Passes through community self-determination and the revendication of cities as a new commons.
Passes through community self-determination and the revendication of cities as a new commons.
SELF-SUSTAINMENT
Diffuse resources
among the citizens
ENVIRONMENTWhere Nature is
a key component
KNOWLEDGEAbout sustainability
and good practices
COMMUNITIESShare their stories
and link them up
Our projectsAre about cultural & energetic autonomy of communities and reclaiming non-places and returning them to the people.
Among them we would like to show you:
Among them we would like to show you:
What they say about us We asked some of our friends and collaborators to sum up their experience with us. Following you can read what they say:
Natalie GanpatsinghFounding Director of Nature Nurture CIC
“Nature Nurture have been collaborating with Commando Jugendstil since 2021, on community mural projects and green space events which aim to raise awareness and inspire action around nature restoration and mitigation against climate change. These projects have included co-delivering Reading Climate Festival events and large-scale community mural urban regeneration commissions funded by our local authority.
As an organisation committed to a place-based approach, I am impressed with Commando Jugendstil’s ability to co-create murals with local people from all walks of life. A participatory approach is core to their artistic creation methodology, enabling artists and those with little experience to take part, yet always resulting in high quality public art. They always successfully engage local people in the theme design as well as the execution, often drawing on themes including local history, wildlife and envisioning sustainable futures.
We are planning further future collaborations, including green space signage projects and public art, with potential funding from Reading Borough Council.”
“Nature Nurture have been collaborating with Commando Jugendstil since 2021, on community mural projects and green space events which aim to raise awareness and inspire action around nature restoration and mitigation against climate change. These projects have included co-delivering Reading Climate Festival events and large-scale community mural urban regeneration commissions funded by our local authority.
As an organisation committed to a place-based approach, I am impressed with Commando Jugendstil’s ability to co-create murals with local people from all walks of life. A participatory approach is core to their artistic creation methodology, enabling artists and those with little experience to take part, yet always resulting in high quality public art. They always successfully engage local people in the theme design as well as the execution, often drawing on themes including local history, wildlife and envisioning sustainable futures.
We are planning further future collaborations, including green space signage projects and public art, with potential funding from Reading Borough Council.”
Tony CowlingChair of Reading Community Energy Society
“In Reading, Commando Jugendstil has produced and installed a series of public murals. They are all brilliant and embrace within the artwork a strong message that visually communicates their intent. In the case of the Hydro, referring back to Archimedes and in a fun way following a water drop character as energy is produced. Some pictures of local wildlife encourage learning. These were followed by a brilliant mural in a walkway underpass showcasing the history of people and business in Reading. The most recent mural has pride of place as a backdrop to Reading Market, again showcasing local history.
Their work is brilliant and as Chair of Reading Community Energy Society I am particularly pleased to see solar panels as a part of an art installation. This is highly innovative and takes public murals to another level. We would like to see and hear the new installation in Reading! I have worked with Commando Jugendstil on several of these projects and they are easy to work with, professional and the results are nothing short of brilliant.”
“In Reading, Commando Jugendstil has produced and installed a series of public murals. They are all brilliant and embrace within the artwork a strong message that visually communicates their intent. In the case of the Hydro, referring back to Archimedes and in a fun way following a water drop character as energy is produced. Some pictures of local wildlife encourage learning. These were followed by a brilliant mural in a walkway underpass showcasing the history of people and business in Reading. The most recent mural has pride of place as a backdrop to Reading Market, again showcasing local history.
Their work is brilliant and as Chair of Reading Community Energy Society I am particularly pleased to see solar panels as a part of an art installation. This is highly innovative and takes public murals to another level. We would like to see and hear the new installation in Reading! I have worked with Commando Jugendstil on several of these projects and they are easy to work with, professional and the results are nothing short of brilliant.”
Anne Wheldon & Sophie Paul
Director and Co-chair of Reading Hydro &
Former Chair of Reading Hydro
“Commando Jugendstil manages to involve all abilities of community volunteers in realising their artwork, despite its complexity and detail. This may be fairly unique in commissioned street art. They made our turbine house beautiful and the pride of all involved. It continues to be an important part of our public communication, and engages both visitors and passers by.”
“Commando Jugendstil manages to involve all abilities of community volunteers in realising their artwork, despite its complexity and detail. This may be fairly unique in commissioned street art. They made our turbine house beautiful and the pride of all involved. It continues to be an important part of our public communication, and engages both visitors and passers by.”
Donna SibleyHSHAZ Community Engagement
“Reading High Street Heritage Action Zone commissioned Commando Jugendstil to develop and realise a large scale public artwork “The Market Tree” with local community based on the history of an area of a High Street Heritage Action Zone at the end of 2023. From the outset they were a pleasure to work with. They thoroughly researched specific history with trusted local sources prior to developing the proposal and came up with ideas of how to work with the local community to develop ideas, capture personal stories and to involve the community in the painting of the art work. We were impressed with their previous local work with communities and organisations.
They were easy to work with, ambitious, open to feedback and requests, adaptable, friendly, resilient and very hard-working. They are extremely talented at developing and delivering high quality large scale art work in collaboration with partners and community. We were particularly impressed with their openness and inclusive way of working, working well with corporate groups as well as families and people with additional needs.
They had a great network of talented people who supported the project, including a swift and straightforward installation in a busy public area. Their finished artwork is even better than imagined at the outset of the project, and the community has been unanimous in praise for the work.”
“Reading High Street Heritage Action Zone commissioned Commando Jugendstil to develop and realise a large scale public artwork “The Market Tree” with local community based on the history of an area of a High Street Heritage Action Zone at the end of 2023. From the outset they were a pleasure to work with. They thoroughly researched specific history with trusted local sources prior to developing the proposal and came up with ideas of how to work with the local community to develop ideas, capture personal stories and to involve the community in the painting of the art work. We were impressed with their previous local work with communities and organisations.
They were easy to work with, ambitious, open to feedback and requests, adaptable, friendly, resilient and very hard-working. They are extremely talented at developing and delivering high quality large scale art work in collaboration with partners and community. We were particularly impressed with their openness and inclusive way of working, working well with corporate groups as well as families and people with additional needs.
They had a great network of talented people who supported the project, including a swift and straightforward installation in a busy public area. Their finished artwork is even better than imagined at the outset of the project, and the community has been unanimous in praise for the work.”
Kathryn McCannGreen Party councillor for Redlands ward, Reading, and sustainability and marketing lead at Ethical Reading
“I first met Guglielmo and Laura at Reading Green Drinks several years ago and was excited about their concept of using pollution-absorbing paint to create street art with environmental themes and even incorporating solar photovoltaics. Every time I heard of an opportunity for a possible street art project, I mentioned them and was delighted when they were selected to paint the Reading Hydro turbine house. The results are stunning and the way they worked together with the community to make it happen was brilliant. The same applies with the other projects Commando Jugendstil has carried out around town since.
During the Covid pandemic, they ran a great project using a Transition UK grant. That involved running a series of online workshops to gather input from local people about how they would like Reading to be in a more eco-friendly future. They used the input they gathered to produce an engaging book, which they gave away free. They ran the workshops in such a warm, sensitive and inclusive way – real highlights during a very challenging time.
More recently, Guglielmo kindly helped out with an Ethical Reading project, refreshing the lettering on a wooden plaque, so people passing by can read about the significance of a very special tree.
Guglielmo and Laura are such positive additions to Reading, bridging the green and cultural scenes and engaging with people across the community.”
“I first met Guglielmo and Laura at Reading Green Drinks several years ago and was excited about their concept of using pollution-absorbing paint to create street art with environmental themes and even incorporating solar photovoltaics. Every time I heard of an opportunity for a possible street art project, I mentioned them and was delighted when they were selected to paint the Reading Hydro turbine house. The results are stunning and the way they worked together with the community to make it happen was brilliant. The same applies with the other projects Commando Jugendstil has carried out around town since.
During the Covid pandemic, they ran a great project using a Transition UK grant. That involved running a series of online workshops to gather input from local people about how they would like Reading to be in a more eco-friendly future. They used the input they gathered to produce an engaging book, which they gave away free. They ran the workshops in such a warm, sensitive and inclusive way – real highlights during a very challenging time.
More recently, Guglielmo kindly helped out with an Ethical Reading project, refreshing the lettering on a wooden plaque, so people passing by can read about the significance of a very special tree.
Guglielmo and Laura are such positive additions to Reading, bridging the green and cultural scenes and engaging with people across the community.”
Luisa ZanettiFormer Chair of A.ME.LIN.C. social cooperative, Milano (IT)
“II first collaborated with Commando Jugendstil in 2014, for an EUROMED project focused on reproductive health education in Milan, Italy, and Beirut, Lebanon. On that occasion they created graphics and print materials to disseminate good practices and contributed greatly to the success of the project.
Later, I contacted Commando Jugendstil in 2019 for an EC-funded project within the “There Is No PLANet B” action. The project, titled “Milano, Cartoline da un Futuro Possibile” has fostered a very interesting collaboration, and a great occasion for growth of the participants, in spite of the hardships of running it through the COVID-19 pandemic.
This experience was extended thanks to funding from the Fondazione di Comunità Milano through the project “Milano in Cartoline. Immaginare la città del futuro”. Both projects involved disadvantaged communities in a process of re-imagining their lived spaces through the lens of solarpunk to identify practical solutions to their daily sustainability problems and envision the neighbourhood of the future through narration and art. In both projects, the preparation and creativity of the members of Commando Jugendstil shone through, together with their problem-solving skills.”
“II first collaborated with Commando Jugendstil in 2014, for an EUROMED project focused on reproductive health education in Milan, Italy, and Beirut, Lebanon. On that occasion they created graphics and print materials to disseminate good practices and contributed greatly to the success of the project.
Later, I contacted Commando Jugendstil in 2019 for an EC-funded project within the “There Is No PLANet B” action. The project, titled “Milano, Cartoline da un Futuro Possibile” has fostered a very interesting collaboration, and a great occasion for growth of the participants, in spite of the hardships of running it through the COVID-19 pandemic.
This experience was extended thanks to funding from the Fondazione di Comunità Milano through the project “Milano in Cartoline. Immaginare la città del futuro”. Both projects involved disadvantaged communities in a process of re-imagining their lived spaces through the lens of solarpunk to identify practical solutions to their daily sustainability problems and envision the neighbourhood of the future through narration and art. In both projects, the preparation and creativity of the members of Commando Jugendstil shone through, together with their problem-solving skills.”