“Inspire Growth”
Research into the impact of disposable coffee cups revealed that Australians discard 2.7 million single-use cups daily, making them a significant contributor to litter. Given the mural's location in a vibrant Canberra suburb known for its café culture, it was essential to reflect the community’s sustainability practices. Conversations with local business owners, including a café donating food waste for composting, inspired the inclusion of a reusable coffee cup and the idea of recycling as central themes.
The mural integrates symbols of growth and sustainability, with mushrooms representing recycling, inspired by fungi research from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The words “Inspire Growth” carry a dual meaning, reflecting both spiritual growth through sustainable practices and the physical growth of food production. The adapted KeepCup logo with the phrase “Keep Up” adds a playful challenge, prompting viewers to consider their own role in fostering growth and sustainability.
Year
2022
Client
ACT Government
"Rather than making viewers feel bad about their waste, Inspire Growth uses humour and witty juxtapositions to convey its environmental message, helping to overcome the anxiety and apathy that the current issue-based approach to climate storytelling creates.
BOHIE’s public art embodies environmental meaning-making through emotive visual storytelling. Her murals are not just in the public, but for the public."
— Excerpt from Street Art as a Vehicle for Environmental Science Communication science paper by the Centre of the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National University
Interview with the Artist
Interview in front of the artwork with Center of the Public Awareness of Science at the Australian National University