Proudly born and bred in Ballarat, urban mural artist Cax One spent many years honing his craft in this regional city and has many fond memories of the times spent growing up in Sebastopol – so who could be better suited to transform this massive wall on the side of Totally Workwear.
This site-specific mural, with strong references and ties to the area, is a design full of nostalgic references for Cax, that many local residents would recognise too. Yellow, blue, and gold tones feature throughout the design, symbolising the local connection to “The Burra.” Amongst the design, there are also smaller nods to the rich history of Ballarat as a mining town, built on the hard work and investment of its factory workers and labourers.
Cax specifically chose to design the cloud as a bright pink and purple blob to represent his strong association with “Hubba Bubba” bubblegum, a staple from his childhood tradition of going to the old corner store on Albert Street for a sweet, chewy, treat. Another childhood memory is the BMX, based on his very first bike. Cax originally learned how to ride on the nearby streets and paths, and there is now a strong, growing BMX community in the Sebastopol area who can also identify with this element and call the mural their own.
Another addition is the Murnong Daisy. The local indigenous community farmed these native flowers for the yams attached to their roots and including it is the artist’s way of showing appreciation to their heritage, tradition, and resourcefulness, paying respect to the land, pre-colonisation.
