The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi by Beck Storer

The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi by Beck Storer is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award in Igrafikhi Competition Category.

IsilivaIgrafikhi· 2022

The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi

by Beck Storer

Client: Merbein Arts Group

Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award Winner in Igrafikhi Category

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Colors

The Design

About The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi

I-River Runs Through iwukufakwa kobuciko okuguquguqukayo okuhlola ukulandisa okucebile kwezindlela zamanzi ezitholakala e-Merbein Common; indawo yokulondoloza imvelo eMfuleni iMurray yaseVictoria. Umsebenzi wobuciko uhlanganisa umdwebo odongeni wendabuko kanye nokuphrinta kwedijithali okusha futhi uvezwa ezindongeni zeshede elidala lokugcina eliqandisiwe, elake lasetshenziselwa ukugcina izithelo zemboni yejusi. Ebusuku kuba okuhlangenwe nakho okuhluke ngokuphelele; inikwa amandla yilanga umsebenzi wobuciko uguqulwa ube ukufakwa kokukhanya okumibalabala.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award

The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi iwinile uMklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile ngokungajwayelekile okunikezwa imiklamo esezingeni eliphezulu, ebukekayo nethinta kakhulu. Abawinile beSiliva yimisebenzi egqamile kakhulu nedala kakhulu ebonisa ubungcweti obuphawulekayo, italente nobuhlakani babaklami babo. The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi ilindeleke ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omuhle wesibonelo, onobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezijulile. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award uyinto entsha ebonakala kakhulu nethakazelisayo esiza futhi isunduza imingcele yobuciko, isayensi, ukuklama nobuchwepheshe. The River Runs Through Ubuciko Bomphakathi iyinto enomhawu omkhulu kuyo evusa izifiso, ilethe imizwa emihle futhi ivuse ukumangala nokuxakeka.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: In 6 months the project was fully funded by the Merbein community, a population just shy of 3000 people. Over $30,000 was raised from individuals and businesses, during an unprecedented year of many challenges due to Covid lockdowns.

From a creative perseptive, the artwork combines traditional mural painting with innovative digital printing and is presented on the walls of an old refrigerated storage shed, which was once used to store fruit for a juice factory. At night it is a totally different experience - powered by the sun the artwork is transformed into a colourful light installation.
Dimensions & Packaging: The project is big.

Covering over 350 square metres the installation used over 200 litres of paint to transform the space. In addiiton to the traditional mural painting an innovative digital printing technique was used to transfer the abstract wave to the service. Like a huge sticker, this graphic was delicately positionedn with millmetre perfection to present a detail element to the mural and took 2 days to install.
Tags: public art, mural art, projection art, graphic design, graphics, colour,
Production Technology: Creating a point of difference to the project, at night the artwork is powered by the sun by 3 large solar panel RGB floodlights which transforms it into a dynamic colourful light installation.

In addition to the public art installation a series of communication assets were created. This included a website and social media strategy to share the development to the community which created interest and engagement from the broader Victorian mallee area. An interpretative signage display with included a QR code link to a Google map - encouraging people to visit the Merbein Common and the Murray River themselves. And a series of limited printed posters and promotional postcards to promote the township of Merbein as a major public art tourist attraction in the area.
Design Challenge: Challenges arouse to ensure the surface was cleaned and suitable for the artwork, as over the years the old shed became quite deteriorated. This was solved by an intensive cleaning process of power sanding over 90 square metres of the sheds metal service and cleaning the entire site with a sustainable cleaning element and jet water pressure washes.
Research: The aim of the project? To totally reinvigorate an old unused area into a new shared public space through the beauty of large scale public art.

Started by goodwill, infused by community investment and delivered through design, the artwork has reignited the community with confidence, pride and ownership of a truly unique piece of public art that has transformed an unused area into an inspiring outdoor public space.

The River Runs Through is the only large scale public artwork in the Sunraysia region and has now established Merbein as a predominant public art destination.

It has created new opportunities to promote Merbein as a tourist destination and is currently featured on all main local tourist websites, such as Visit Mildura as a major public art attraction in Sunraysia.
Inspiration: The artwork is inspired by the unique landscape of the Australian outback in regional Victoria and the Murray River, the longest river in Australia.

It pays homage to a particular area on the Murray known as the Merbein Common. The Merbein Common is a floodplain reserve, nestled in a bend of the Murray River just north-west of Mildura.

It is made up of a series of nationally significant wetlands, such as Cowanna Billabong.
Project Duration: The River Runs Through is located at 80 Game Street Merbein, Victoria Australia and is permanently displayed for the public.
Operation Flow: The public can view the art installation both during the day and night.
Team Members: Beck Storer, Travis McGowan, Moose McGowan
Image Credits: Photography: Aaron Hawkins