GRAND LANE MURAL TAKES FLIGHT
With a 99 metre long wall as their canvas, two artists have begun a spectacular mural in the inner city laneway, Grand Lane.
Commissioned by the City of Perth, the mural will be painted by Scott Neoh and Hiroyasu Tsuri – more commonly known as Bonsai and Two-One.
Melbourne artist Neils Oeltjen (Nails) also contributed to the development of the concept.
Grand Lane is the second laneway to be refurbished as part of the City’s Forgotten Spaces Laneway Activation Strategy. The first was Howard Lane which was finished last year.
For more info you can download the City of Perth’s Laneway Revitalisation Strategy ‘Forgotten Spaces’ (PDF 4.5mb).
This website will follow the progress of the mural and we will also upload video interviews with artists and key stakeholders who are involved in this project.
Stay tuned as following the completion of the laneway, the City will screen a mini doco on the mural at the Northbridge Piazza.
Right: A close up of two of the many native birds that will feature in the mural
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Scott Neoh (Bonsai) works out of a self-sustainable mud brick hideaway in Tallarook, Victoria. He has used his many years of working as a graffiti artist together with his love of nature and geometry to distil a style that is very much his own.
Bonsai's work knows no bounds - mural painting, signage, interior design, fashion design, illustration, product design, you name it - he has applied his craft to it and made it his own.
Twoone was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1985.
Drawing and crafting have been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. He gained an early interest in street art specifically while photographing a two-kilometre stretch of wall in his hometown.
Perhaps Twoone’s biggest event to date is his ‘One Thousand Cans’ show held in 2008. This show directed him to think more about concept and installation than just painting alone.
Right: Image by Bonsai, FRANTI MASK - Wooden Shadow Studios, Melbourne 2007
Image courtesy of Bonsai
DAY ONE- Thursday 2 Dec
Bonsai and Twoone arrive in Perth.
Here is a picture of the laneway as it is at the moment.
Bonsai and Twoone will start at the Wellington Street end of the laneway and work their way down towards the Murray Street Mall entrance.
For the first few days the site will be closed off for the public however as they progress down to where the laneway widens, members of the public are welcome to drop by and watch the boys in action!
DAY TWO - Friday 3 Dec
And the fun begins...
Scaffolding is all set up and Bonsai and Two-One have started outling the mural.
Weatherman is predicting a few showers over the next week. Fingers crossed the rain holds off for a few more days.
DAY FIVE - Monday 6 Dec
Taking Shape
Two-One and Bonsai worked through the weekend and are now ahead of schedule.
The Wellington Street end of the laneway is looking great.
Tune in to RTR FM's Morning Magazine tomorrow morning around 10am as Jamie McDonald chats with Bonsai about how the work is progressing.
DAY SEVEN - Wednesday 8 Dec
Meeting the Artists
Check out this video (5 mins) with Bonsai and Twoone as the boys chat mural logistics, music, birds and chainsaws.
Thanks to the team at the Northbridge Piazza for putting this together.
DAY ELEVEN - Monday 13 Dec
Half way mark
The mural is almost at the half way mark.
The tribute to Grand Theatre is finished and in this picture (right) Bonsai is working on one of the many birds featured throughout the piece.
DAY 14 - Thursday 16
Dec
Another video
Apologies for being a little 'Curious Case of Benjamin Buttom' wih the timeline, however here is another quick video from the guys from their first day of filming (below).
Also, for more images, have a look at Bonsai and Twoone's blog Wooden Foundations
The finished product!
After two weeks of Bonsai and Twoone working around the clock, the mural is now finished.
Works will now continue on the refurbishments of the laneway, including lighting and drainage upgrades.
Big thank you to Bonsai and Twoone for their work.
We will update this site closer to the date with details of the screening of the documentary at the Northbridge Piazza.
Thank you to all those who have followed this mural's progress!
Right: Twoone taking a hard earned break. (Thanks to Kia for the pic)
Bottom right: The tribute to Grand Theatre
The Grand Lane Upgrade is a project of the of the City of Perth.
Email the City of Perth