Is there life on Mars? Impressive David Bowie Ziggy Stardust helps brighten up Hartlepool town centre during lockdown

A vibrant mural featuring David Bowie has left passersby smiling after it appeared in a town centre street – and its timing couldn’t be better.
The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.
The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.

The impressive artwork featuring the late singer-songwriter, who recorded ‘Life on Mars?’, appeared as NASA’s Perseverance rover headed towards the Red Planet, where it has now landed and is preparing to search for signs of past life.

And while the mural may not be able to help scientists answer the question ‘Is – or rather, was – their life on Mars?’, it is hoped the artwork will help inspire other projects to assist in breathing new life into Hartlepool town centre.

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Sarah Scarr, Hartlepool Borough Council’s heritage and countryside manager, referenced the mural while giving an update on plans for regenerating the Church Street area.

The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.
The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.

“If you do go down the back of Whitby Street on the back of one of the properties, someone’s done a mural of David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust days,” she said.

“We really like that idea… and that kind of thing so that’s something we’d look to develop and work with building owners about how we can do that.

“We think that’s something that we could link into our walking tours.”

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The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.
The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.

It is hoped the Bowie mural will not be the only artwork on show in the area.

Following on from a project which has seen building shutters decorated with graffiti to improve their appearance, there have been talks taking place on using objects and art to ‘animate windows’ in Church Street.

A ‘history in lights’ scheme is also in the works for the thoroughfare, which would see images and information about the history of the street projected onto buildings.

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The council is also continuing to work with local photography company Raw35 to document the changes around Church Street, which they hope to display at some point.

The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.
The mural featuring David Bowie, behind Whitby Street in Hartlepool.

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