Two Brisbane artists are transforming part of the facade of the QUT Gardens Point campus building that houses the university library with an artwork inspired by its very location.
The public can view the artistic processes involved in the installation of a large-scale mural at V Block at Gardens Point campus as part of the 2023 Brisbane Street Art Festival (BSAF), which runs from 6-21 May.
Two acclaimed artists known as @MCRT.Studio began painting the 9.8m2 mural on Sunday, 7 May, and the public are encouraged to visit the install.
The BSAF 2023 will see 43 street art installations created in situ by various artists, at venues across southeast Queensland.
The location for the new mural is at the Gardens Point campus, outside V Block, to the left of the southeast door, opposite the bank of vending machines.
@MCRT.Studio are two artists, Maxim Chikanchi and Rozelle Tan, who met at the University of the Arts London and have been working together to create public art for the last nine years.
Their murals and artworks have been exhibited worldwide in London, China, Sydney, Melbourne, and their hometown of Brisbane. In the past year alone, @MCRT.Studio’s work has been exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, The Outdoor Gallery in Edison Lane, and the Brisbane Powerhouse as part of the Brisbane Portrait Prize.
The duo’s artistic style is figurative, employing collage elements to convey a narrative of their experience and the world around them.
Artist Rozelle Tan said the planned artwork, titled The Sketchbook, was inspired by the location where it will sit.
“The library is home to thousands of books but sometimes the most meaningful content in a book is your thoughts and sketches in a journal to help you keep going,” Rozelle Tan said.
“This artwork gives a fictional story of a protagonist and her sketchbook, it houses raw emotion in self-reflection, her thoughts and some encouraging quotes.
“The artwork portrays the value of self-reflection and self-expression through writing, treasuring memories and drawing, which can help individuals to better understand their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, promoting self-awareness and self-care practices.”
Maxim Chikanchi said self-encouragement was a powerful tool that could help individuals to overcome self-doubt, fear, and adversity.
“By acknowledging their strengths, celebrating their accomplishments, and focusing on their goals, people can build self-confidence and resilience, and ultimately achieve what they set out to do,” Maxim Chikanchi said.
“This will be a nice reminder for the location and the students who pass by.”
The mural installation is scheduled to be completed by 21 May.
QUT is participating in the BSAF for the first time since 2019 and you can view the fruits of QUT’s previous participation by viewing the three murals already on our campuses.
Mexican artist Said Dokins’ mural is at X Block and the DOES mural by Joos ‘DOES’ van Barneveld from the Netherlands is at B Block at the QUT Gardens Point campus. At Block Z6 on the Kelvin Grove campus you can view a mural by Argentinian duo Medianeras.
BSAF will also be hosting the Battles & Jam event at South Bank Piazza on 13 May, and the Felons x BSAF Closing Party at the Felons Barrel Hall on 20 May. Visit the BSAF website.
