More than a brick in the wall
Mural artists get creative at street art festival in victoria, australia
THE artist carefully balances on the ladder, wearing a straw hat and long-sleeved shirt to shield herself from the burning sun. A respirator mask protects her eyes and lungs from the noxious fumes as she spray-paints her colourful creation onto the wall.
Gloves protect her from the hot metal spray paint canisters sitting on the ladder‘s top step, waiting their turn to be used. Music plays in the background, giving a rhythm to her work and a distraction from the physically challenging conditions. It must be at least 36 degrees.
After a while she descends to ground level, takes off her mask and hat, and gulps down water, perspiration dripping off her forehead. Stepping back for better perspective, she takes in her mural.
Is she happy with her work? Not yet. She steps back up the ladder and carries on. Her name is Elle, one of 21 mural artists at the Benalla Wall to Wall Street Art Festival in Victoria, Australia.
The creative and physical energy to complete the festival‘s murals is not for the faint of heart.
And that strength of character and artistic talent is how Malaysian artist Leonard Siaw won a mural competition in 2017 organised by Publika and the Visit Victoria tourism agency, with UEM Sunrise, in Malaysia. It landed him a slot to paint his own mural titled Fishing Fun at the festival.
Shaun Hossack, festival artistic director, and also founder and creative director of Juddy Roller, a Melbourne-based street art network and studio, walks me around. As we pass different artists, live bands, helpers and friends, he‘s greeted by “hang loose“hand signals and friendly banter.
It is respect and admiration that is shown for Hossack, for he has clearly helped place the small city of Benalla on the map, providing a platform for many artists‘ work. With more than 14,000 inhabitants in this northeastern city of Victoria, Benalla is a 2.5-hour drive from Melbourne. It has hosted the festival for the past four years.
A 2017 survey estimated the local economy benefited from the 44,000 people visiting the festival last year by A$6 million (RM18 million).
But for Hossack it is about much more than economics. It is the social impact and the important role that art plays for the youth in this small conservative city that he cares deeply about.
Pushing the boundaries — like any true artist — has got him, and Benalla, in the forefront of the Australian mural art movement. Dealing with local government, maintaining the world-class creative input, fundraising, and marketing the event, are no mean feat to achieve. Now that truly is an art. Hat tip to Mister Hossack.