Dream of Maldivian people for generations realized by Chinese builders

In the most lively garden area in downtown Malé, the capital of the Maldives, the sun casts mottled tree shadows on the walls. In the distance, a bridge stands across the sea. This is a large mural created by artist Amir in 2016.

Though one of the world's most famous island resorts, the Maldives had no bridges. The only means of transportation between islands was by boat, which was heavily affected by weather. Having a bridge across the sea linking Malé to the international airport on Hulhule Island and adjacent islands had been a dream of the Maldivian people for generations. However, the construction of a cross-sea bridge in the deep sea with uneven bearing capacity and geological fragility had never been done before in the world.

In September 2014, China and the Maldives decided to build a cross-sea bridge connecting Malé and the airport island, and name it the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge. In order to record the birth of the bridge, Amir came up with the idea of painting the bridge on the wall, capturing the Chinese masterpiece in a 50-meter-long mural, while he was watching the Chinese builders working hard two kilometers away, braving violent waves, high temperatures and humidity, and complex geological conditions.

On Aug 30, 2018, after two years and eight months, the first sea bridge in the Maldives was completed. On the morning of the official opening of the bridge, hundreds of motorcycles gathered by the bridge, and people were excited to wait for their "maiden voyage" experience. The China-Maldives Friendship Bridge connects the three islands of the Maldives and opens up the transportation artery for the economic development of the capital of the Maldives. On the 5th anniversary of the opening of the bridge, Amir picked up his brush again and wanted to do a new painting for the bridge.