Cosmic Routes: A Time Capsule in Colour

Generating Ideas

In summer 2024, I proposed a mural project for Wolverhampton’s City of Youth Culture Visual Arts Trail—one that would invite young people to create something lasting. Not just a piece of public art, but a snapshot of youth culture in the mid-2020s. Something that could be looked back on in 20, 30, even 50 years’ time and say: this is what it felt like to be young in Wolverhampton, in 2024.

The young people from The Way Youth Zone were tasked with exploring three strands:

• Favourite places to hang out

• Favourite activities and hobbies

• What they love about Wolverhampton

They were also asked to choose a theme to stylise the mural—anything from mythical beings to digital worlds. They chose space. A cosmic lens through which to capture their ideas, their humour, and their sense of place.

During our initial workshop, I introduced the concept of illustration—not just drawing, but visual storytelling. We talked about how illustration can be metaphorical, symbolic, even playful. I used Pictionary as an example: sometimes you have to draw something unexpected to get the message across.

One of the strongest outcomes was their depiction of eating a cheap dinner at the Moon Under the Water. Instead of sketching the pub itself, they illustrated a moon, eating dinner, under water, with £ signs in his eyes. It was clever, funny, and deeply illustrative—a perfect example of thinking beyond the literal.

The Creative Process

The young people created the artwork on A3 canvases using mixed media. They selected their own materials, choosing acrylic inks and acrylic paint pens as their primary tools. To build their cosmic collage elements, they marbled acrylic inks on paper plates, then cut out planets, stars, and other celestial components. For the background, they blended inks to create a dual-chromatic cosmic wash—rich, layered, and atmospheric.

Each illustration was first sketched on paper, then transferred to canvas using acrylic markers. Throughout the process, they brainstormed ways to transform everyday places into imaginative symbols. One standout example was their take on the Lighthouse Cinema (now Lockworks Cinema). Rather than simply drawing the building, they envisioned a literal lighthouse that projected a film beam—not light—onto a stage. That stage, in turn, depicted a production at the Grand Theatre. It was a brilliant fusion of place, purpose, and metaphor—showing exceptional creativity and conceptual thinking.

Reflection

The final mural, Cosmic Routes, now lives in the Upper Gallery of the Mander Centre. It’s the first of nine artworks in the trail, and it maps Wolverhampton as a constellation—each venue a star in a creative universe. It’s a cosmic time capsule, waiting to be rediscovered by future generations.

I often wonder what a young person in 2050 might make of it. How different their youth culture might be. I shared my own comparisons during the workshops—growing up in the mid-late 1990s, when pagers were popular and mobile phones were rare. We’d go shopping for cassette tapes on Saturdays (they were cheaper than CDs), and perfumes from The Body Shop were far more coveted than celebrity brands (which barely existed). That was only 30 years ago. Fast forward another 30, and who knows what youth culture will look like?

I’m honoured to be returning for the final legacy mural in 2026—bookending the trail with a second piece. While I don’t yet know what it will look like, I have some exciting ideas in the pipeline. I’m waiting to see what emerges from the other artist-led workshops, but I suspect there’ll be a nod to youth culture of the past—perhaps in a fashion sense. A gentle echo of what came before.

For now, Cosmic Routes stands as a celebration of collaboration, imagination, and the joy of mapping identity through art. Thank you to The Way Youth Zone, Wolverhampton Arts Centre, and every young person who helped shape this journey.