Ravensthorpe, Western Austrlalia 2016

Commissioned by CBH, curated by FORM 2016

"Ravensthorpe’s Six Stages of Banksia baxteri is a 25 metre high wildflower inspired mural painted across three CBH Group silos in Ravensthorpe, Western Australia by acclaimed Fremantle-based artist Amok Island. The project, which entailed 31 days, 338 litres of paint and countless trips up and down the silos in a knuckle boom, is the second in a series of monumental street art murals on grain silos delivered by FORM in partnership with CBH Group over the last 18 months. The first, in the Wheatbelt community of Northam in March 2015, was Australia’s first silo mural project.

Six Stages of Banksia baxteri is Amok Island’s largest mural to date and and incorporated native Western Australian wildlife and flowers to fit with the region’s strong links and connection to wildflowers.

“Each silo side shows a different stage of the flowering cycle of this species of Banksia, only found between Esperance and Albany,” Amok Island said.

“From flower buds, to full bloom, to seedpods developing, drying out and opening. The animals are this species’ main pollinators; the Honey Possum and New Holland Honey eater. The artwork encircles the three silos infinitely; the final silo marks the beginning once again of the first, making a connection with the cycle of the seasons and grain farming processes this area is known for.”

Amok Island’s recently completed commission for CBH silos in Ravensthorpe sits within the Fitzgerald Biosphere, an area of internationally significant biodiversity situated at the border of the Goldfields-Esperance and Great Southern regions. Following the project, in October 2016, the Amsterdam- born, multi-disciplinary artist exhibited a new body of work at FORM Gallery developed aroundSix Stages of Banksia baxteri and depicting a selection of flora endemic to the Biosphere, an area containing around 20 per cent of Western Australia’s native plant species.

Text: FORM