The issue: Like many cities across the globe, Bor suffers from air pollution as a result of excessive fossil fuel use. Air quality tests in Bor have found traces of harmful chemicals, such as sulfur dioxide and arsenic, which negatively affects the health of local residents. Bor is also home to several state-owned mines for copper extraction which has added to the poor air quality, land erosion and water pollution. Serbia further faces deforestation and various threats to local wildlife.

***Maja Stojanovic (Zmaja), Artist***

Zmaja is a Canadian-Serbian artist based in the Serbian city of Čačak. Maja collaborated with high school students in Bor to create her latest mural, “Curiosity”, which reflects students' concerns over environmental sustainability within their local community. “Curiosity” is Maja’s largest mural to date and it delightfully puts forward a hopeful message of living in harmony with nature and being mindful of one’s consumption practices.

The Mural: “Curiosity" is the result of a three-day workshop with students of Technical School Bor, aged 16-17, organized as part of Youth Art for the Earth. Students were encouraged to imagine what their city would look like in 50 years so as to identify their present concerns. Recycling, reduced fossil fuel consumption and protection of local species were their main concerns, all of which are reflected in the mural. The incredibly colorful mural, painted on the wall of Vidovdan elementary and secondary school, represents a hopeful future as imagined by the youth of Bor and beautifully executed by the artist, Maja.

Nadežda Ilić - School principal "I am very proud of the ecological mural that decorates our school wall, sparking joy and curiosity among the children. The mural is much more than a visual representation of our city, it carries a powerful message. Our children show a deep understanding of ecology, recognizing endemic species in our surroundings. Despite Bor's pollution classification, the mural showcases our rich natural resources. It offers a valuable learning experience on ecology, recycling, and conservation. Though modest, the mural holds great significance, encompassing a wide spectrum of knowledge and values."

Nebojsa Glisic - Project manager "Having the opportunity to communicate with local children, neighbors, and people of the city of Bor makes me feel proud and optimistic about the future of this city and the appreciation for art and the preservation of the natural habitat. This large reminder in the form of the mural in the city center, next to the three schoolyards, will support the idea of joint efforts for environmental change and a new ecological agenda in the city of Bor."