Press release. September 2020.

Topic: unveiling of the ecomural with an image of the legendary footballer Kazimierz Deyna

„I am glad that such an important mural, which commemorates the legendary Kazimierz Deyn, highlights the key value of respect.”

 Respect is important. So is respect for the environment. 300 sqm of the mural is painted with KNOxOUT air cleaning paint. The name can easily be translated as: „out”, i.e. we disperse harmful nitrogen oxides (NOx).

This paint not only decorates but also works for the environment. Under the influence of sunlight, a chemical reaction is triggered, which transforms the most harmful pollutants into less harmful substances.

1 sq. m covered with KNOxOUT paint reduces the number of nitrogen oxides by 0.44 g. Comparing: one medium-sized tree filters 0.42 g of air daily. You can easily imagine that 300 sq.m of mural is like planting a park of 300 trees”.

We invite you to acquaint yourself with the press kit, more information can also be found on the websites: ecoevolution.org and konxout.eu.

Eco mural with the image of the legendary Kazimierz Deyna

The mural dedicated to Kazimierz Deyn, the legendary captain of the Legion and the Polish representation, which is being created at 16 Kazury Street in Warsaw, will not only decorate the 420 sq. m. of the wall, but will also reduce the amount of harmful nitrogen oxides in the air.

The initiator of the eco mural: Kazimierz Deyna Foundation

The Kazimierz Deyna Foundation aims to cultivate the memory of the football player, it is thanks to her efforts and the personal commitment of Janusz Dorosiewicz that Deyna’s ashes returned from San Diego to Poland in 2012 and rested on the Powazki Military Avenue in the Avenue of Merit. The Foundation also supported the creation of a monument to Kazimierz Deyna, which was funded by fans and was erected at the Legia Stadium.

What does the eco-mural project represent?

Bartek Podlewski, the author of the eco-mural project: „Most of Kazimierz Deyna’s murals present him as an athlete, during an action with a ball. We wanted to commemorate him as a man”.

During his artistic work Podlewski reached for the photographs of the famous sports photographer Eugeniusz Warmiński, who took two posed shots of Deyna. One of these images was the starting point for the project.

The mural is located on a high, well exposed wall of a residential building. The project is inspired by the composition of sports magazines from the 1970s. However, it is not a simple translation of photo 1 to 1; the whole is made up of geometric forms that can be associated with crystals. Thanks to such a trick, the mural becomes legible only from a distance.

The form itself is simple. We will merely find a name on it: „Deyna” and one word which is very important for fans: „Respect”.

Thanks to the fact that the mural is designed exclusively in shades of grey, the building is well inscribed in the space – it does not dominate or overwhelm the area. There is also a lot of broken white on it, which is important for the environment, as the white colour does not absorb the sun’s rays, so it does not heat up so much and does not give off the heat at night. It is white that is the best way to combat so-called urban heat islands.

For 300 sq.m., KNOxOUT air-purifying paints were used, which reduce harmful nitrogen oxides.

EcoEvolution – a project that purifies the air

Paweł Lisowski, author of the EcoEvolution.org project, says:

„Deyna is a legend. I am sure that if he were alive, he would also want to look after the environment. Legion fans not only remember their idol, but also contributed to the fact that a huge wall is being built in Warsaw’s Ursynów, which literally cleans the air. And that means that when we look at the portrait of the outstanding Polish footballer, we can remember his brilliant actions on the pitch, but we should also know that we are doing an important thing, reducing air pollution”.

Of the 420 sq.m. wall on which Kazimierz Deyna’s mural is being built, about 300 sq.m is painted with KNOxOUT™ air purifying paint. This means that the mural will reduce 132 g of harmful nitrogen oxides daily. Exactly that many harmful substances are filtered by as many as 300 medium-sized trees per day.

The future of cities in the fight against smog ,

Paweł Lisowski stresses that this is the future of cities in Poland and the world. In 2020 of the 21st century, no one is denying smog anymore. Air quality is one of the main environmental problems. We feel that the air is not crystalline. The greatest pollution is caused by exhaust fumes from passenger cars, bad fuel we use to heat our homes and, of course, industry.

Trees are very important. However, there are places where there is no more free space to plant enough of them. So Paweł Lisowski started the EcoEvolution.org project and wants to paint as much space as possible with KNOxOUT anti-smog paint.

How is it possible for paint to clean the air?

KNOxOUT paint contains a photocatalyst which converts harmful air pollutants into less harmful substances under the influence of sunlight (UV radiation).

In this way we not only beautify the space, but also create an active air-purifying surface. Such surfaces work best in places where there are most harmful nitrogen oxides.

Nitrogen oxides

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are highly reactive gases.

They have serious effects on health and the environment. These small particles can cause breathing problems. Children, the elderly and those who already have respiratory diseases are particularly vulnerable.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are also responsible for smog, and because they dissolve easily in water, they cause acid rain.

How does KNOxOUT paint work?

While most organic paints focus on reducing the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), KNOxOUT sets a new paradigm for „green” paints. It introduces ecological paints with air purification technology, which work continuously to reduce pollution and improve the environment.

Photocatalyst

The photocatalyst that starts such a favourable chemical reaction is ultra-fine (nanometric) titanium dioxide (TiO2).

Titanium dioxide absorbs solar energy and converts ordinary steam into hydroxyl and peroxyl free radicals. These free radicals, formed in fractions of a second (one billionth of a second), are reactive compounds that break down harmful air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) on the paint surface.

Titanium dioxide absorbs solar energy and converts ordinary steam into hydroxyl and peroxyl free radicals. These free radicals, formed in fractions of a second (one billionth of a second), are reactive compounds that break down harmful air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) on the paint surface.

Harmful NOx (nitrogen oxides) are converted into nitric acid, which is quickly neutralised by alkaline calcium carbonate particles in the paint, producing harmless amounts of calcium nitrate and small amounts of carbon dioxide and water.

Calcium nitrate is dissolved in water. It is easily removed from the surface when exposed to rain. The surface remains clean.

The great advantage of the photocatalytic reaction is that the ultra-fine TiO2 is not consumed in the reaction. It is only a catalyst which, as long as there is enough light, air and moisture, constantly generates free radicals. In addition, this reaction gives the paint its self-cleaning, antibacterial and deodorising properties. The paint is environmentally friendly. It is used as a normal paint. It is possible to use both a brush, roller and a painting (spray) gun under vacuum.

Health of residents

According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution is the greatest environmental threat to health in the EU. Approximately 400 000 people die every year as a result of poor air quality, with urban residents being particularly vulnerable. Reducing pollution is an important challenge. Cities are active on many fronts. KNOxOUT paint can effectively support these efforts.

Paweł Lisowski, EcoEvolution.org: 

“Let’s plant trees and paint the walls with KNOxOUT air cleaning paint. City ice cream makers and inhabitants are given a powerful tool that supports their health, but also beautifies, cleans – figuratively and literally – urban space. We want to paint as many walls as possible. Why? Let me remind you: one medium-sized tree filters 0.42g of nitrogen oxides, and one square meter of KNOxOUT coated wall reduces 0.44g of nitrogen oxides per day. These are, of course, completely two different reactions, but the effect is the same: less nitrogen oxides.”