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Story behind St Mungo’s mural on High Street in Glasgow
National World - LocalTV
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14/04/2025
Some information behind the mural of St Mungo on Glasgow’s High Street created in 2016.
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00:00
Glasgow is an open-air art gallery. There are hundreds of murals right across the city that
00:04
bring the streets to life, illustrate its rich history and culture while showcasing the creativity
00:09
of its people. It is one of the best things about Glasgow. My favourite mural is here at the top of
00:15
High Street, in the East End located a few steps away from the Glasgow Cathedral. A huge artwork
00:20
painted in warm tones on the side of a tenement, depicting a modern-day Saint Mungo, Glasgow's
00:25
patron saint, as he holds a robin referencing the bird that never flew away. Saint Mungo is depicted
00:31
as homeless to reflect contemporary social issues. He looks closer to a man you would see in the
00:36
street today, rather than a traditional interpretation of a saint, a distant figure in robes. The idea was
00:42
to humanise him, make him more relatable, to bring his message of kindness, compassion and healing
00:47
into a present-day context. This aligns with the Christian values Saint Mungo would have championed,
00:53
caring for the vulnerable and outcast. It was created in February 2016 by the Australian
00:58
street artist Sam Bates, known as Smug. The robin is significant in the city's iconography and
01:05
symbolises Glasgow's four emblems. The legend tells the tale of Saint Mungo restoring life to
01:10
a robin that was accidentally killed. Smug also created Saint Enoch and Child, just a few steps
01:15
away from the previous mural at the corner of High Street and George Street. It shows a modern-day
01:19
mother holding her baby, which also symbolises Saint Enoch holding her son Saint Mungo. The
01:24
reimagining of these religious figures is once again a nod to everyday Glaswegians. This
01:29
mural celebrates maternal strength, care and resilience, qualities attributed to Saint Enoch
01:34
who raised her son with conviction despite hardships. These are two of 30 murals around the city
01:39
centre that make up a trail. What's your favourite mural in the city centre?
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