A London artist who created a striking mural on the exterior of Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth has created a free, collectable piece of Valentine’s Day art in her latest collaboration with the centre.
Designed to spread love in a creative way, Southside is giving away 500 specially-created Valentine’s Day cards, free-of-charge from 12 February.
Artist, Ruki Chuki with her newly designed Valentine’s Day card in front of her mural at Southside Shopping Centre
Following the success of Ruki’s mural at the centre’s busy West Entrance – which transformed the brickwork into a colourful and welcoming reflection of the character and soul of the Wandsworth community – the Valentine’s Day collaboration continues this message in a fresh and interactive way.
The specially-commissioned card presents a modern take on Cupid, reimagined as a confident girl who embodies a blend of diverse characteristics in one figure. Combining romance with contemporary charm, the design uses a playful colour palette that captures the community’s vibrancy and diversity and illustrates how love transcends boundaries and unites people together.
The “You Are Loved” messaging inside is designed to be inclusive and universal, extending beyond the traditional notion of romantic love to embrace all forms of connections including self-love, friendship, family bonds, platonic relationships and community support, making it a source of warmth and affection for all.
500 exclusive Valentine’s Day cards will be available to collect for free at Southside Shopping Centre while stocks last, from Wednesday 12th February until Friday 14th February, between 11am and 2pm, allowing visitors to share their love with friends, family and significant others.
A dedicated arts and crafts station will be set up in the centre, inviting guests of all ages to take a moment to add their own personal touch to the card. Whether it’s a heartfelt message for a loved one, a note of appreciation to a friend, or simply an act of kindness to a stranger, the activity aims to encourage creativity and strengthen connections within the community.
Christina Cooper, Retail and Brand Manager at Southside Shopping Centre, said: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with local artist, Ruki Chuki and create a unique Valentine’s Day card for the Wandsworth community. Ruki’s design embodies a mix of adventure and personality, all centred around celebrating love in all its forms – and through this partnership, we aim to create a meaningful and inclusive Valentine’s Day for everyone.
“We are also inviting visitors to take a moment to explore the artist’s stunning mural during their visit to Southside, where Ruki’s portrayal of community love and connection comes to life.”
Ruki Chuki commented: “In North Macedonia, where I was born, we don’t have Valentine’s Day, so this is very exciting for me – celebrating love in every form together. I believe every one of us should experience that arrow or spark, and I love finding ways to remind ourselves that we are loved, not only on Valentine’s Day but every single day.”
Visitors can pick up the free Valentine’s Day card designed by Ruki Chuki from February 12th to 14th, 11am – 2pm, at the dedicated arts and crafts stall, located outside Waitrose at Southside Shopping Centre.
For more information, please visit the website here.
About the Artist
Hailing from North Macedonia, Ruki has lived in Wandsworth for eight years with her husband and children, and has grown to appreciate how welcoming the culture and spirit is within the community, and that the borough is such a family-friendly place.
Having always dreamt of being an artist, Ruki attended art school in North Macedonia, and studied fine art and graphic design before being introduced to graffiti and illustration. For Ruki, art has always been a way to express herself, and to document important moments in her life, whether that be during her youth, moving countries, or documenting her journey to motherhood, and her experience of living in London.
Ruki won a competition in 2024 to create a mural in the heart of Wandsworth, following an open call issued by Southside’s owners Landsec and Invesco Real Estate.