Great Wall of Bayswater

Drew Straker

Title: Great Wall of Bayswater

Artist/s: Drew Straker

Year: 2018

Category: Urban Art Mural

Site: Bayswater Junction

Location Details: Alongside Railway Parade Wall

Description:

A 500m-long urban art mural is located on the rail reserve’s retaining wall facing Railway Parade, taking inspiration from the Noongar six seasons. The mural was developed as a collaboration between Perth artist Drew Straker and the PTA Right Track program, with young people working alongside the artist to paint the mural.

Artist/S Statement:

It seemed fitting to represent the scenes through different times of the year, so I chose the six Noongar seasons as they are more in tune with the climate of Western Australia. It is also a way of paying respect to the traditional custodians of the land.

I wanted the land and sky to be the main attraction with the animals being almost camouflaged into the scene. When viewed up close the work may appear slightly chaotic but when viewed from afar these strokes come together to form a cohesive landscape, the work is not designed to be seen from a stationary position but instead from a vehicle cruising past. Seeing the work from this perspective brings the work to life, almost like watching a time lapse of day and night.