Sydney street artists bring gender inequality out of the shadows
In the dim corners of an inner city alley, a group of street artists hope bold colours and androgynous figures in their works will transform the dull surface of metres of construction hoarding.
Even stronger is the Sydney-based artists' desire for the murals that loom large in Underwood Street at Circular Quay to generate a deeper conversation about gender inequality in the city's heart.
The artworks are dotted around the construction site for Circular QuayTower and Lendlease's urban regeneration precinct and will decorate the hoarding for at least 18 months.
Lendlease joined with social enterprise Two Good Co, which provides meals to domestic abuse refuges, to encourage businesses to team up with street artists to create murals for the space.
The artworks had to be themed around gender equality to shine a light on gender inequality as the root cause of domestic and family violence.
Two Good Co chief executive Rob Caslick said: "Gender equality is a massive issue, but we solve it by taking small steps.
"I think this is one of the small steps we can take as a community. And it looks cool."
The finalists' artworks were judged on Wednesday by Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Minister Pru Goward and curator Emily McDaniel.
They named the artwork by the Ox King + Bijl Architecture as winner for innovation and collaboration, while Muralisto won for "activation".
Kernel Property director and street art fan Kai Schindlmayr, whose company sponsored one of the murals, pointed to street art's ability to spark debate and social change.
"The beauty behind street art is that it's in the public domain, it's for the public and it generates the discussion. The meaning behind the art, like all art, it can be interpreted.
"So as long as there's an underlying message associated with the art, then that generates the discussion."
Artist Shannon Crees hoped her mural, which used black and white photographs, would "be clear and direct in raising consciousness toward a better practices and equality in the work place".