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Denise Berg

Professor Batty

English 101

28 May 2018

Untitled: The Mural of Diverse Unity

It is a complicated thought to put into actual words, to describe such a diverse yet infinite

piece of art. To form a simple conclusion out of a meaning that is different for every viewer

seems to be the hardest to do when looking at this unique mural. Yet, with every blink of my eye,

I have started to come closer and closer to what at least I would like to call a simple conclusion.

Although some people would disagree with my interpretation of El Mac’s and Retna’s Untitled

mural’s meaning, I believe that it represents the unity between people of different cultures and

races that need to be brought together to form a greater outcome for society.

Untitled by Retna and El Mac is a mural that was painted in Hollywood, Los Angeles in

2006. (Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles). According to LA Weekly, “[I]t’s a harmonious

blend of stylized lines and cultural reference points.”(Coleman) With its graffiti-like perspective,

the materials that were known to be used to create this mural are aerosol and acrylics (Mural

Conservancy of Los Angeles). Yet, despite being made with only two components, the mural has

come to portray a broad theme of colors, patterns, and a central subject matter which all

contribute to my conclusion that the mural’s meaning is about the unity of all people.

To begin, the colors that were used in the mural all have a certain attached meaning or

emotion to them. Yet, the overall meaning of the mural doesn’t become clear until you look at
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the entirety of it. The colors not only work individually to form a seperate meaning of their own,

they, more importantly, work together to form their meaning of being united through the way

they are used in the mural. The main colors used in the mural were different shades of blue,

black, red, and green. The main center of attention of the mural being a girl with the left side of

her face a shade of dark blue and the right a red forms a conclusion that there are two opposing

sides to ponder about. Whether it be cultural or political, the dark blue and bright red are both on

the opposite sides of the face and even make up the majority of the background around the girl

herself. The two colors and positions being associated as opposites, the bright red brings passion

while the darker blue brings wisdom. This contrast of two opposing colors lets the viewer see the

individual meanings of the colors, which represent the differences between people.

A small part of the background and the objects around the girl are full of colors that start to

fluctuate into different shades. The disk on top of the girl’s head includes the three colors of a

darker red, darker blue, and solid green. Yet, here they seem to be forming the beginning of

unity, as all three colors are used together instead of the opposition that the viewer comes to

know when looking at the girl and the actual majority of the background. Black is then used to

accentuate the different colors and is even used to create a sort of three dimensional effect of the

mural.

It is the actual combination of color and pattern which finally brings me the realization

that the mural represents the unity of people, despite their differences of culture. Starting from

the majority of the background, although one side red and the other blue, it is made up of

repeated markings. Another repeated object is the two pieces of different colored wheat at the

opposite sides of the girl’s head. I feel that it is these parts of the mural that are trying to convey
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the message that although we might be at opposing sides or of a different identity, we are all the

same through being human. We are made of the same materials, but are presented differently.

Moving to the disk on top of the girls head, the colors seem to be woven with each other.

In fact, it gives the impression of a basket that has been hand woven with different colored

blades of grass. To me, this symbolizes the start of the realization that we must work together to

start forming something beautiful. The colors are woven together, but they are not blended just

yet.

Finally, in the right corner of the mural and the girl’s shoulders, the colors seem to leak

from the woven disk on top of the girl's head and into a new wavelike pattern. All of the colors

seem to want to finally blend together to form one. This symbolizes the final unity of people and

the acceptance that we are all one. We are all beautiful and unique, but we all are the same in

being human. If we strive to accept one another, then together we will form something more

bigger and beautiful than ever before. This beauty is represented through the final painting of the

entire mural.

Despite other's opinions of Untitled, I believe that through the usage of colors and

patterns in the mural, the message is one of unity between people. Even the main subject of

attention, the girl, shows that she may be dreaming of bringing everybody together, whether to

fight injustice or for the sake of final acceptance of one and other. The motion of her looking up

at the woven disk while closing her eyes shows that she is indeed, visualizing the beauty of

unity. With this, I can finally say that this piece of art on the wall gives us all an individual

lesson of being accepting and strive to become one as humanity.

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Works Cited

Coleman, Jonny. “20 Of L.A.'s Most Iconic Murals.” ​L.A. Weekly​, 13 Nov. 2017,

www.laweekly.com/arts/20-of-las-most-iconic-murals-7927290.

​“Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles.” ​El Mac & Retna | Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles​,

www.muralconservancy.org/artist/el-mac-retna.
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Appendix A