MICHELANGELO WAS DOING it in the Sistine Chapel in the 16th century, and, although his technique may be unsurpassed, he was by no means breaking new ground.
The art of storytelling with murals may be as old as civilisation itself, preceding language as we know it, but it's lost none of its fascination. Having survived the hiccup of minimalist interiors, their contemporary uses are wide and varied, with murals or trompe l'oeil (tricks of the eye) enjoying a strong following in the design world.
Decorating walls and ceilings with paintings or other media does more than add individuality to a home. Environmental Graphics, a US-based company whose murals are inspired by nature, says people are using them to provide a balance from the 'sensory overload of technology'. The company, which markets its paper murals in China, says its designs enhance well-being by bringing fung shui elements into a home.
The murals cost about $1,200 for sizes up to 251cm by 416cm. The range includes lakes, deserts, forests, sunsets, beaches and coral reefs, as well as outer space and world maps. The murals are custom-made and applied as wallpaper in eight panels. Designed for easy removal to minimise wall damage, they should be put on walls that have been painted with inexpensive, non-washable flat latex paint.
Hong Kong-based Italian artist and designer Paola Dindo, a specialist in hand-painted walls and ceilings, says murals can enhance mood or create depth, making small spaces look bigger. 'There are many benefits they can bring to an apartment - art, fantasy, dreams,' says Dindo, whose projects include the ceiling of the art deco-style lobby of the Grand Hyatt. But you don't need such a grand space, she says. 'Trompe l'oeil works well in small spaces.'
Trompe l'oeil is used to describe a painting so realistic the viewer can't be sure whether it's painted. To achieve the right effect, an artist must use precisely the right perspective, with shadows so believable they deceive the eye. According to Dindo, who paints her own designs in pure pigments, the wall surface should be lime plaster and not affected by humidity. For walls made of materials such as gypsum board or plywood, a thin layer of lime plaster needs to be applied.
Murals can take a few days to a few weeks to paint, depending on the subject and intricacy, and cost $1,500-$2,800 per square metre.