Art Pharmacy was engaged by Goodman to implement a mural project in South Dandenong, Victoria.
Art Pharmacy was engaged to commission a welcoming mural for the unveiling of Eumemmerring Business Park in South Dandenong. The 6.5 hectare development, built using sustainable design principles, is situated 31 km south-east of Melbourne’s Central Business District.
Eumemmerring Business Park stands on Bunurong Country and Goodman sought to collaborate with a locally-based First Nations artist to connect the site with its rich cultural roots. Goodman proposed placing a welcoming large-scale artwork on an exterior feature wall as an inviting entrance into the precinct.
“Everywhere we go, the biosphere is embedded…the tree cannot be separated from the life that survives off of it.”
– Adam Magennis (Kaptify)
The wall location was chosen for its visibility, both from the Business Park’s entrance on Abbotts Road and from higher vantage points in the distance. It is envisioned to be a welcoming mural, to invite both staff and visitors alike into the Business Park through storytelling, engaging visuals and bright colours.
In collaboration with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) – the official body representing the Traditional Owners of the South Dandenong area – Art Pharmacy proposed an extensive list of suitable artists working in the public realm. After several workshops, Goodman chose to move forward with Bunurong elder and locally-famed public artist, Adam Magennis, in the commission of a 10-metre-high welcome mural on the site.
Art Pharmacy proposed the narrative ‘Caring For Our Red Gum Memory’ for the artist as guidance, to reflect on the way that industrial growth has historically impacted the flora and fauna of a region – this work could thereby offer an opportunity to heal Country in moving forward together.
Inspired by the Eucalyptus Camaldulensis (River Red Gum) found in large numbers around the site, the typology therefore was for the artwork to focus on what brings us all together and how art can be a way of connection.
Several stages of concept development and detailed design resulted in the implementation and unveiling of a visually striking, vivid and hyper-detailed mural in Magennis’ iconic graphic and colourful style, depicting the River Red Gum’s role in the ecosystem of the Dandenong and Bayside Wetlands. “Everywhere we go, the biosphere is embedded,” Magennis notes, “the tree cannot be separated from the life that survives off of it.”
Art Pharmacy hopes this mural will inspire and welcome all those who pass by or enter the Eumemmerring Business Park, and bring a sense of connection to those who tread lightly on Bunurong land.
Artist bio
Kaptify’s unique art style is influenced by Cultural Ecology, Surrealism and landscape art. Developed over the thirty years since Kaptify’s inception, the style fuses local biosphere themes to create site-specific artworks.
Kaptify delivers cultural ecology programs on Bunurong Country as well as artist in residency programs, public mural projects and public art maintenance and conservation.
Adam Magennis is additionally a Bunurong Elder and one of the founding members of the Bunurong Land Council.
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Special thanks to Goodman and Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) for making this project possible.
