Other Murals

September 17, 2018

Other Murals

Murals

I noticed many murals as I went. The focus of my research and this survey was permanent public art, imagining that as a lifespan of ten years or more. Painted murals don’t often have a long lifespan and so are not usually referred to as permanent public art. But many have been preserved - examples are: Keith Haring’s mural in Johnston Street Fitzroy and the Australian waterside workers mural which has been removed in sections from its original site, is kept by the Australian Maritime Museum in Sydney. Sometimes murals are preserved if they are perceived to have cultural value.

In being durational murals contribute to the ideology and iconography of visual space. They are powerful pedagogues, particularly through their size and colour. I imagine that because they are imagined as temporary, (like billboards) they may have more license to be more political or radical, than permanent public art. Aerosol and brush-painted murals are often more political and inclusive. they are strong and colourful and so they make an impact on public space and perhaps are more able to reflect current issues and narratives.

At first when walking through St Kilda, I had decided not to include aerosol murals in the survey, but I noted and photographed them as I walked because painted murals form a significant visual impact on the suburb of St Kilda, particularly their bright colour and size makes them a force to be reckoned with. Throughout Melbourne there has been a recent increase in mural commissions, as they are thought to prevent tagging.

Murals on the back wall of The Peanut Farm/ VEG OUT

Some of these murals are part of an Indigenous project. The Indigenous themed murals were in bad condition and were surrounded by tags and throw-ups so that they no longer stood apart as commissioned artworks. But I read recent reference to them which said they were important as they reinforce Peanut Farm Reserve as an Indigenous gathering place.

References:

Peanut Farm Reserve Upgrade Plan, viewed 2018, <http://www.portphillip.vic.gov.au/Report_4_Attachment_3_-_Phase_2_Peanut_Farm_consultation_report_.pdf.pdf>.