mural

The art piece

Guido van Helten’s monumental work ‘Water’, adorning the façade of the STEP in Martigny, offers passers-by on the A9 freeway a striking vision of nature. This hyper-realistic fresco depicts submerged fallen leaves, frozen in the moment when drops of water create ripples on the surface.

Departing from his usual human portraits, Van Helten here delivers a portrait of nature with photographic precision. Each detail, painted solely with a brush, captures the transparency of water gliding over leaves with remarkable technical mastery.

The artist’s inspiration comes from the fountains of Martigny, where glacial water flows freely. This discovery led him to establish a conceptual link with the STEP, illustrating the cycle of water, from its original purity to its return to nature after treatment. The decomposing autumn leaves symbolize the perpetual cycle of life, while the plunging perspective invites the viewer to take a fresh look at his environment. This monumental work transforms an ordinary scene into an extraordinary spectacle, encouraging us to appreciate the everyday wonders that surround us.

van Helten’s photographic style echoes the importance of the image in a city that is home to the Médiathèque Valais, guardian of the canton’s visual archives. In this way, ‘Water’ creates a bridge between contemporary urban art and the visual memory of the Valais, underlining the importance of preserving our natural and cultural heritage.