A bright and colourful mural on the side of Campana's Stockade Cellars and Deli on Mair Street tells a powerful story of Aboriginal culture.
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The mural that appeared on the plain brick wall at the weekend was created by Ballarat Aboriginal art group Pitcha Makin Fellas as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.
The work is a digitally created photograph featuring images of Pitcha Makin Fella members Ted Laxton and Adrian Rigney wearing breastplates.
What do you really know about country and what country will you help make now and for the future?
- Peter Widmer, Pitcha Makin Fellas
White colonial authorities used breastplates, metal crescent-shaped name plaques worn around the neck of chosen Aboriginal elders, from colonial times to the 1930s to recognise those they perceived to be Aboriginal leaders. The plates created animosity within and between Aboriginal clan groups as they did not believe in kings or chiefs.
The blue patterned background of the mural is digitised from a previous Pitcha Makin Fellas painting titled 'The Nation'. Each symbol represents the 500 original Aboriginal clan groups or 'nations' in Australia in pre-colonial times. Pathways between each symbol shows connections that existed between the groups for ceremony and trading.
Artist and Pitcha Makin Fellas assistant Peter Widmer explained the pool of white coming out over the painting symbolised white wash and white privilege wiping out the richness of Aboriginal history.
"The Fellas, with their totems, are talking directly to you: what do you really know about country and what country will you help make now and for the future? The answer is in black and white," Mr Widmer said.
The Pitcha Makin Fellas work has been recognised for confronting sensitive issues with humour and colour since the group first formed in 2013.
In the past six years the fellas have had paintings purchased by art galleries, won competitions and have been a part of creating displays for White Night in Melbourne, Ballarat and a similar festival in Portugal.
In another piece of work for the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, the fellas worked with members of the community to create 60 breastplates.
They will be displayed in the Mining Exchange during the Biennale as part of artist Fiona Foley and curator Djon Mundine OAMs's collaborative exhibition.
Mr Widmer said the messaging of the breastplates fitted well with Fiona Foley's confronting work about the history of Australia.
"The Pitcha Makin Fellas work is a provocation of thought but is also quite beautiful as well. Fiona's work is also beautiful but talks about extraordinary savagery at the same time," he said.
The Ballarat International Foto Biennale runs from August 24 to October.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
