South East Queensland-based muralists Jordan Bruce and Joel Fergie are progressing the transformation the GrainCorp silos at Forest Hill.
Jordan Bruce of the ‘Brightsiders’ and Joel Fergie ‘The Zookeeper’ are recognised nationally for delivering large-scale public artworks and have had the privilege of creating these in communities across Australia for many years.
Joel said it was thanks to that experience they’ve come to understand the significance these works hold – both for the people and places they represent.
“We’ve spent the last decade working in remote and regional communities across Australia, telling stories of identity and giving people a better connection to the place they call home,” he said.
“To see your work displayed at this level - at an amazing location and on such a grand scale is a huge career highlight.
“We feel incredibly honoured to be entrusted with telling part of Forest Hill’s story and creating something that will become a lasting part of the town’s landscape.
“This is everything we’ve dreamt of creating from when we were much younger – it really means the world to us.”
Jordan said he viewed the project as the pinnacle of their artform.
“After many years of doing this, we feel we’re in a special space to create something that’s our best work yet,” Jordan said.
“The time is right to push it to a new level.”
Joel said the duo were aware of the themes the community wanted depicted in the artwork.
“Council’s design brief included the results of previous community consultation, which we initially worked from,” he said.
“We certainly floated around town to get a sense of who the people were and what might fit into the landscape.
“We feel a real responsibility when taking on something of this scale, and we’re looking forward to spending the coming weeks in Forest Hill, getting to know the community further and bringing the artwork on the GrainCorp Silos at Forest Hill to life.”
This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments and Lockyer Valley Regional Council as part of the South East Queensland (SEQ) Liveability Fund under the SEQ City Deal. The SEQ City Deal is a partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Council of Mayors (SEQ) that will deliver long-lasting benefits to the region.
The mural is expected to be completed by mid-November, weather permitting, and works on the corresponding viewing precinct are also timed for mid-November completion.
