INSPIRATION ON TRACK AFTER TRAM WIN
A GEELONG industrial designer’s artwork will be splashed across a Melbourne tram as part of an international art festival.
Nyein Chan Aung’s design The Late Supper will be one of seven artworks to feature on trams as part of the Melbourne International Arts Festival in October.
The Late Supper is an interpretation of the painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci.
Nyein found inspiration for the design in the beauty of a late night snack with his wife.
“My wife is probably my biggest muse, I paint her more than anyone else,” he said.
“If you really look at the design its almost as if you’re sitting there with her. It really does represent community and diversity.”
The illustration depicts people having a meal, however it features customers at Melbourne’s renowned Supper Inn Chinese restaurant instead of Jesus Christ with his apostles.
Nyein began studying art in Myanmar, which he said was quite strict, before moving to the US and then Australia.
“My first art lesson was in Myanmar and I was taught in a very traditional way,” he said. “It was very academic and classical style because the way they understood art was very traditional.”
He said he had only started to take his art career as seriously as his design career in the past year and it was his first attempt at entering the tram design competition.
“I was surprised. I had always hoped to be selected.” Nyein’s tram will be unveiled on the tracks on October 8.
Creative Industries Minister Martin Foley said he hoped the artist’s work left “a lasting impression for everyone who sees it”.
“These wonderful art trams show off and celebrate some of our most brilliant local artists to the many people who travel through our city every day,” he said.
Melbourne International Arts Festival artistic director Jonathan Holloway said it was an “absolute delight” to be able to see the designs taking over Melbourne’s tram tracks.
“The Melbourne Art Trams are a festival highlight and I encourage everyone to make a magical memory by riding around the city in one of these works of art,” Mr Holloway said.
A People’s Choice Award will be announced following the release of the trams, with the public able to vote for their favourite tram at festival. melbourne/arttrams