Bundjalung artist Luke Close has transformed a carpark wall at the entry to the new Lismore Regional Gallery space on Keen Street into a vibrant mural depicting a rainforest and Whian Whian Falls.
‘Whian Whian flows into Rocky Creek Dam, which is the water source for the region and a gathering place. It’s always been communal,’ Mr Close said.
Mr Close took almost four weeks to complete the mural, which was commissioned by the new gallery to draw visitors from Keen Street into the new precinct.
‘It’s a sexy new gallery and I love it… I want this artwork to be contemporary, post-modern and sexy to go with it,” he said.
‘I feel like this is great for my professional development and helps springboard me into the Indigenous arts community on a national level.’
Gallery director Brett Adlington said the mural was commissioned as part of the carpark upgrade.
‘As part of the gallery project we upgraded the carpark off Keen Street and there was this bland wall which was crying out for a mural,’ he said.
‘In consultation with our Aboriginal Advisory Group and Public Art Reference Group, we called for expressions of interest from local artists and Luke was selected.
‘We were looking for something that is colourful and eye-catching as well as being a reminder that we acknowledge and respect the Bundjalung people, the traditional owners of the land on which the gallery is situated,” Brett added.
‘Luke’s work certainly fits that brief.”
The new gallery will be officially opened by Page MP Kevin Hogan on 28 October at 5.30pm.
The above video was shot by Paul ‘Duck’ Connelly of OneLoneDuckMedia.
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