This Wall

A collaboration with Bruce Dawe

The Cupid's Shaving Brush, Emilia sonchifolia or better known as the Tassel flower, is found wide spread around the world in tropical regions. In Vietnam, it has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of fever, sore throat, diarrhea, eczema and as an antidote for snake bites. But who would have known that? In our busy lives would we even spotted this poetic lilac beauty growing below this very wall? Enlarging the Tassel flower larger than life within a stunning clasic frame reminding us of all the to open our eyes and experience all that is around us. Allow for the unnoticed to be noticed.

Now that we know where this Tassel flower can be found and its uses, have you ever taken note of it, picked it up, and blown away the seeds? As busy adults, we walk fast and move from point A to point B. I watched my two young daughters (6 and 8) walk from point A to point B. They don’t just walk there; they have a whole adventure. They see all the little things we no longer see. Cracks in walls where they see creatures, they find ladybirds in the grass, and they always pick one of these Tassel flowers when they see one. They are always a gift to me from them as a display of affection. They end up in a small glass of water in the window seal, catching the sun and shining their intense lilac colour. For the mural, a part of a little girl will be bending over, looking through a magnifying glass, and inspecting the Tassel flower, which will be larger than life on the wall.

This mural is designed to be noticed, not to be walked past. To make us aware of what is around us and to slow us down and enjoy the whole experience of life.