SO SUCCESSFUL was this year’s artistic collaboration that gave South Gippsland Shire Council’s ArtCubes a stunning new look, the same artistic trio has recently tackled a completely different Leongatha project, this time a long and high wall near the pedestrian bridge connecting the town to the railway precinct.
The creative team consists of renowned artist Hiroyasu Tsuri, known as TWOONE (pronounced two-one), and up-and-coming local talents Eileen Tanaka and Riam Chilver.
Before a design was created, former Leongatha Secondary College pupil Riam visited the school’s Year 9 art students, getting their ideas about South Gippsland and what they would like included.
And while they were initially a little shy, ideas soon started to flow.
As with the ArtCubes, flora and fauna in the local area played a big part in the design, the students particularly enthusiastic in naming various types of birds to include.
While the subject matter between the two projects was related, more planning was required this time, Hiroyasu describing the challenge of painting the wall as an extension of July’s ArtCube project.
“This time we took it further,” he said, explaining the long wall required a different approach to the square cubes, leading him to suggest a design that flowed from one end to the other.
Therefore, a swooping Magpie, a hopping rabbit and other featured wildlife are moving from Bair Street towards the railway precinct.
Among the tools used, spray bottles containing paint and water create a spatter effect, while extension poles with paint rollers are used to define details.
Eileen said doing another project together has been exciting.
“We can work off our traits and what we can do better,” she said of the advantage of having gotten to know each other.
Eileen feels that the wall’s brick surface is easier to paint on than the corrugated surface of the ArtCubes, also drying quicker.
However, the wall’s height introduces a new element, having to constantly go up and down a ladder, painting a little and then checking the perspective from a distance.
The sun’s glare has also been difficult at times.
When Sentinel-Times came to view progress on Thursday, the project had advanced surprisingly well, having only begun on Monday and being repeatedly disrupted by rain.
Council’s arts development officer Mary Sullivan visited the artists on site on Thursday, delighted with how the mural has gone and the way in which Hiroyasu involves Riam and Eileen, being excited to see the trio reunited as a team.
Their latest project was made possible through the State Government’s Amplify grant program, formerly known as FReeZA.