All You Need is Love

It is probably no surprise to find out that the artists who painted this mural, artists Jason Recker and Alayna Hryclik, are big music fans. The central motif of the mural; bold and stylishly drafted words ‘All you need is Love’ is a pop cultural emblem from the Beatles, and an undeniably positive note that Recker wanted to convey to the neighbourhood. Notwithstanding, Hryclik utilized her specialty in illustration and handwritten text to add a stylish and slick sensibility to the message. In this case, “The medium is the message” holds true - a profoundly succinct and equally emblematic statement from Canadian media Theorist Marshall McLuhan, whose phrase sums up that the medium through which we choose to communicate holds as much, if not more, value than the message itself.

As Recker explains, “It’s hard not to start singing the song when you see it and automatically feel better. With the exposure and location of this wall, it had to be vibrant, so I went with a colourful 1960s psychedelic vibe to bring it all to life.”

The large scale of the mural enables a very simple design encompassing a swirling profusion of organic shapes amidst an expected allotment of placid heart shapes. The only thing curiously missing is a peace sign. But perhaps, that was not included on purpose, as an invitation for the viewer to make their own peace sign whilst stranding in front for a selfie. All you need is love!

Image sourced from the Tourism London website, https://www.londontourism.ca/murals