At 2 Collins St Tempe, Jasmine Sarin and Pilar Basa’s work 'Goolay’yari’ pays homage to the incredibly diverse flora and fauna of Cadigal Wangal Country and Goolay’yari river by which it sits.
Goolay'yari (2025) by Jasmine Sarin x Pilar Basa IG @jskooridesigns ǀ @pilar.basa
In the artists' words:
“We wanted to acknowledge the deep ongoing connection between people, place, and the natural world. Set at dusk on the river, Spoonbills stand peacefully by the water’s edge, while silhouettes of native grasses allude to the rich variety of flora that thrives along the riverbanks. Local species like the Little Bent-Wing Bat and the Grey-Headed Flying Fox skim the surface for water, as a cicada takes refuge amongst the leaves of a banksia. Along the base of the mural we use hands to represent those who have been before us, as well as a reminder of the deep history and stories that have existed here long before roads, buildings and houses.
Interwoven community symbols reflect the diversity of those who live here today and the many ways we connect with each other. Throughout the mural we have woven flowing connection lines, representing both the waterways and the cultural storylines that shape this land. Our intention for this mural is to speak to our shared belonging and responsibility, and to remind us that we are not separate from nature, but all are part of the story of this place and are in charge of its prosperity.”
Over at 203 Trafalgar St, Stanmore, Gadigal-man and Archibald finalist Jesse Wright (JESWRI) returned to his heartland to paint ‘Fly Peacock Fly’.
Fly Peacock Fly (2025) by Jeswri (Jesse Wright) IG @jeswri
“I’ve always loved the pageantry, cockiness, and flamboyance of peacocks — they show up, show off, and show out. For me, it’s never just about the subject I paint, but the conversations and subtleties that surround it. Peacocks aren’t made for long-distance flight, yet they still spread their wings. I feel the same way — always excited to fly back home and show off my new, colourful feathers. This work was inspired by the idea of taking action where people or systems won’t let you. In the immortal words of Marky Mark, “I’m a peacock — you gotta let me fly.”
Discover more Perfect Match Street artworks during National Reconciliation Week, including Multitudes of Love by Kyra Kum-Sing, Ngurra, We Camp by Elbows and Chris Edwards, and We Reap What You Sow by Maddison Gibbs.
You can also visit Ashfield Civic Centre (260 Liverpool Rd, Ashfield) to view the Ashfield Commemorative Mural. This major public artwork is displayed in the foyer of Ashfield Town Hall. Created by acclaimed Aboriginal artist Blak Douglas (Adam Hill) in 2006, the mural tells the story of Aboriginal presence, survival, resistance and continuing connection to Country in the Ashfield area.
The mural was initiated by a group of local residents who later became ANTaR Inner West Local Reconciliation Group. The commission was a collaborative effort between ANTaR Inner West, Ashfield Council (now part of Inner West Council), the NSW Reconciliation Council, and community donations, reflecting a strong grassroots commitment to reconciliation and truth-telling.
Explore Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding art projects
In 2021, Chris Edwards of the creative team Edwards Clarke acted as a mentor to three young Aboriginal Artists, guiding them through the process of developing a design proposal for the final public art commission in the Inner West.
Hayley Pigram, Travis de Vries and Jasmine Sarin, were the lucky mentees selected from a list of recommendations provided by local Aboriginal arts and educational institutions. All three artists advised us that they all learnt a lot from Chris and will use this next time they apply for a public art opportunity.
The artist selected for the final Gadigal Wangal Wayfinding commission was Jasmine Sarin. Her eloquent design has been installed at Camperdown Memorial Rest in Newtown.
