GUIDO van Helten is a 29 year old artist who has already left impressive marks around the world. Brisbane born, van Helten has been commissioned for work in Belarus, Ukraine, Norway, Iceland and all over Australia.
When van Helten made the decision to create a mural that reflects Australian life in rural towns, he decided his canvas had to be authentic.
The small town of Brim, 170 kilometres from Swan Hill, held the key to the canvas in an old silo that had been sitting idle for over a year.
With assistance from GrainCorp and a host of sponsors and organisers, Mr van Heltens vision became a reality when he arrived in the country town on December 8 2015. He spent time with the locals, ate his meals at the pub, shared Christmas and New Years Eve with the town and even celebrated his 29th birthday in Brim.
Over 22 days he created the iconic silo art that has gone viral on the internet.
According to Brim resident Shane Wardle, he enjoyed his time in the small town of 100 people and he fitted in well.
“Because of the heat he would start painting at 5am,” he said.
“He would work until about 2pm and then knock off for lunch at the pub and then recommence painting at about 5pm until dusk.”
Mr van Helten did all the preparatory work in Brim. He photographed locals and used a computer to generate what would be the final image he transposed onto the silos.
He then chalked out the work on the 30 metre high structures and according to Mr Wardle, the original design had a child in it, but the artist decided it didn’t work so it was removed.
By the time the work was complete Brim was already a town that had re-established itself on the map.
Thousands of tourists had started to stop along the Henty Highway to admire the unique artwork and enjoy the developing enigma that the work evokes.
For more on this story grab a copy of Friday’s Guadian (October 23)
