Participatory mural on the banks of the Riu Sec in Cerdanyola del Vallès
A mural by Taquen that transforms the banks of the Riu Sec into a living tribute to the native fauna and flora of Cerdanyola del Vallès, born from a participatory process with the children of the city.
The artist: Taquen
Taquen is a muralist based in Madrid, specialising in large-scale interventions in public space. His work focuses on the nature and native species of the territories where he works. Through his murals, he proposes a reconnection between the urban environment and the natural world that surrounds it — a reminder that nature is not far away, but runs right through the city.
The artwork: “Ribera del Riu Sec” — mural Riu Sec Cerdanyola
Ribera del Riu Sec is a large-scale mural on the banks of the Riu Sec, visible from the Passeig de les Acàcies. The work pays tribute to the species that inhabit the riverbank: the white poplar, tamarisk shrubs, and birds such as the blue rock thrush, the robin, and the sparrowhawk. In the background, the iconic C sculpture from Cerdanyola’s roundabout anchors the piece to the territory and to the collective memory of the municipality.
In the video, the artist and Cerdanyola's Children's Council explain how the mural on the Riu Sec riverbed was decided: a first meeting with children from several schools, their own cues on colours and shapes, some sketches and a choice. «They decided it themselves and it turned out fantastic.»
Video transcript (translated from Spanish)1 min 3 s
«It all comes from a first meeting I had a couple of months ago with the children from several schools here, where we shared the ideas we had. In the end I tried to get them to give me their own cues about the elements, the colours and the shapes they wanted to see on this wall. They insisted a lot on faith. And then I prepared some sketches, we chose one, and here I am working on it.»
«Well, the Children's Council is a kind of participation body for all children from seven upwards, from primary and even secondary school, and every year we try to push a project forward. We were talking to them and they were quite obsessed, or very focused, on the river. And the idea was how we could make the river a bit cooler, a bit nicer, from the Children's Council. And make it nice through a painting: a painting that, as you can see, they decided themselves and which has turned out fantastic. So this year we are happier than ever.»
Video transcript, edited for reading: repetitions and verbal fillers have been removed, the text has been punctuated and speakers are identified.
A participatory process with the children of Cerdanyola
The mural was born from a meeting between Taquen and pupils from several schools in the city, within the framework of the Consell d’Infants i Adolescents de Cerdanyola (CIAC) — the city’s Children and Young People’s Council. The children shared the elements, colours, and shapes they wanted to see on the wall. The artist gathered their ideas, prepared sketches, and together they chose one. The C from the roundabout was one of the most repeated requests: a symbol the children recognised as their own, and one that had to be there.
A work in dialogue with the territory
In this way, the mural operates on two levels at once. On one hand, it is an artistic piece that engages with the vegetation and natural dynamics of the riverbank. On the other, it is the visible outcome of a process of children’s civic participation — a generation that looks at the river and wants to see life in it.
Just as the Riu Sec runs quietly through the city, the fauna and flora of its banks go largely unseen. The mural Riu Sec Cerdanyola brings them to the foreground, reminding us that the nature we share is often just two streets away.
Projecte Fluvial – Cerdanyola del Vallès
This intervention is part of the Projecte Fluvial, driven by the Ajuntament de Cerdanyola del Vallès and produced by Rebobinart, with the participation of the Consell d’Infants i Adolescents de Cerdanyola (CIAC).
The project was born from the children’s desire to make the river more their own. It is part of a long tradition of children’s participation in Cerdanyola, which has given rise to facilities and spaces designed through the eyes of childhood. This year, the river took centre stage. And art became the tool for transformation.
Projecte Fluvial – Cerdanyola del Vallès. Driven by the Ajuntament de Cerdanyola del Vallès and produced by Rebobinart, with the participation of the Consell d’Infants i Adolescents de Cerdanyola (CIAC).
