Electrical and water utility boxes are an integral part of public spaces, but they are generally viewed as purely functional installations. The Jerusalem Municipality has decided to transform them into part of the urban landscape through a project that brings color, art and local stories to the city's streets.
As part of the initiative, led by the municipality's Operations Administration, utility installations throughout the city are getting a new look. The paintings are the work of artist Elyasaf Miara, a resident of the Gaza border region who has been painting for about 20 years and has extensive experience creating murals and painting public installations. Over the years, Miara has painted hundreds of roadside bomb shelters in northern and southern Israel, as well as the walls of schools and kindergartens and installations in parks and electrical boxes across the country.
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The Jerusalem Municipality has decided to transform electrical and water utility boxes into part of the urban landscape through a project that brings color, art and local stories to the city's streets
(Photo: Jerusalem Municipality)
Miara works with staff from the Jerusalem Municipality's Operations Administration to identify suitable locations for artwork and ensure each painting complements its surroundings. The project began in Sacher Park and has since expanded to neighborhoods and other sites across the capital. Work is underway, and the project is expected to expand to more locations in the coming months.
What makes the project distinctive is that each artwork is tailored to its location. Rather than applying a uniform design to all the installations, the paintings are intended to reflect their surroundings, the character of the neighborhood and the local story.
"I've been a painter for 20 years, and I feel that all those years were actually preparation for the moment when I would have the privilege of painting in the streets of Jerusalem. I've painted hundreds of roadside bomb shelters throughout Israel, in the north and south, as well as schools, kindergartens, parks and electrical boxes. But for me, Jerusalem is something different. It's our capital, the holy city, and painting in its streets is therefore a sacred mission for me," Miara said.
According to Miara, adapting each work to its location is a central part of the process.
Each artwork is tailored to its location
(Photo: Jerusalem Municipality)
"My goal in this project is to take an electrical boxes, which is usually something disconnected from and out of place in its surroundings, and turn it into an integral part of them. I want to connect it to the environment, the character and the story of the place. If it's in Sacher Park, the painting will reflect the park's greenery and natural surroundings. If it's in the Old City, it will have a more traditional style, incorporating Jerusalem's landscapes and architecture. And if it's near the light rail, the painting will reflect modern urban life."
The municipality's Operations Administration sees the project as part of a broader approach to investing in public spaces, focusing not only on infrastructure, sanitation and maintenance but also on the small details that shape the experience of residents and visitors.
Miara hopes his artwork will become a natural part of walking through the city's streets.
"I want people to walk through the streets of Jerusalem, see the paintings, connect with them and love the city even more. I want to see Jerusalem as a beautiful, modern, well-maintained city that invests not only in basic necessities but also in art and culture. For me, if these paintings help people feel a greater sense of belonging to Jerusalem and love it more, I'll have achieved my ultimate goal."
Miara hopes his artwork will become a natural part of walking through the city's streets
(Photo: Jerusalem Municipality)
For Miara, the project is also the fulfillment of a personal dream.
"I want to thank the Jerusalem Municipality for its trust and for the opportunity to fulfill a dream I've had for years. For me, it truly is a sacred mission to come to the streets we love so much and add color, art and life to them."
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said: "We invest not only in major infrastructure but also in the small details that make public spaces more beautiful, pleasant and inviting. Transforming electrical and water utility boxes into works of art brings color, creativity and life to the streets and neighborhoods, connecting them to Jerusalem's unique story. We will continue investing in public spaces and making Jerusalem a more beautiful, well-maintained and modern city."