Tall order for street artist
They’re larger-than-life portraits of largerthan-life New Zealanders.
Street artist Graham Hoete, otherwise known as Mr G, is in the midst of painting a giant mural in Palmerston North featuring Sir Edmund Hillary, Kate Sheppard and Sir A¯ pirana Ngata.
Hillary is the first figure to be completed for the art commission on the side of Obo’s Mihaere Drive building in Roslyn.
Hoete was eager to create the mural because of the values the three identities represent and their contribution to New Zealand.
‘‘I took on the project because it aligns with what I’m about.
‘‘All three of them cover a broad range of what it means to be a New Zealand legend.’’
The mural is one of the largest projects Hoete has taken on.
He estimates each portrait will take four days and he will use between 15 and 25 cans of spray paint for each one.
He finished Sir Edmund Hillary’s portrait on Tuesday, and has moved on to mapping out the eyes of the other two.
He considers it the most important detail.
‘‘You’ve got to nail the eyes, they tell the story. All the minute details really matter.’’
Obo founder Simon Barnett said Hillary, Ngata and Sheppard were chosen by himself and Obo staff because they reflected the values of his business, which makes protective sports gear. ‘‘[Hillary] has humility, we talk about being humble but doing outstanding things and taking on the world ... the staff valued what [Ngata] has bought to the country and Ma¯oridom and young people ... and the equality for women was important to us.’’
Barnett hopes the mural can have a positive impact on the community.
‘‘We think a piece like this, in a very small way, will change the feeling in the area. Maybe the feeling in the city.’’
The mural has already attracted plenty of interest from locals.