Use of muralism to promote awareness about aquatic ecosystems and wise water consumption in northwestern Ecuador

Abstract

In this article, we present the results of the use of muralism as an artistic tool applied to environmental education with a focus on the promotion of awareness of aquatic ecosystems and rationed water consumption in the province of Esmeraldas in northwestern Ecuador. The research was conducted by an interdisciplinary team of professors and students from the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Sede Esmeraldas between 2017 and 2018 with the support of mural artists.The project involved a target audience in participating in the design and painting of four large-format murals with graphic representations of the ecosystems and people's relationship to water. The murals were developed in four different locations in the city where they could be viewed and appreciated by the community in general. One corner of each of these murals was deliberately left blank to serve as a slate where people could reflect and leave their comments.Pre- and post-test surveys were administered to the participants of this study and then evaluated and analyzed using McNemar statistics to measure the changes in participants' knowledge, awareness, and attitude. The reaction of the public to the murals was also part of the study. Their interaction was analyzed using a qualitative evaluation matrix specifically designed for this project.The results obtained in this study show that the use of mural art is an effective tool for environmental education programs. Murals represent a place for interaction; therefore, they become effective spaces for expressing and communicating messages. The impact of murals on awareness of aquatic ecosystems and use of water were more significant in children and teenagers because people are more receptive at a young age. The rest of the target groups participating in the study, although stimulated by the murals, presented minor changes in their responses.The public's reaction to the murals was extremely positive. The results showed that murals that depicted elements relating people's identity to the ecosystem helped reconnect them with nature and reminded them of their responsibility to conserve it. Thus, mural art can serve as a pedagogical tool for environmental education, helping communities connect with the environmental reality and encouraging them to commit to conservation through tangible work.