High above the bustling Lonsdale Street in Canberra's inner-north, artist Lawrence Tan has traded his easel for a cherry picker to bring a towering concrete wall to life. His new mural, titled 'Flourish', now adds a vibrant splash of native Australian blooms to Braddon's ever-growing street art gallery.
Conquering Heights and Finding the Perfect Vase
For 17 days, the Whitlam resident worked suspended in the air, documenting his progress on Instagram. This project marks the first massive mural of Tan's career, and the initial experience was daunting. "The first three days I was so scared, I thought the cherry picker was shaking, but it turns out it's my legs," he admitted. However, he soon found his footing, joking that he could now operate the elevated platform better than his own car.
The floral inspiration came directly from the neighbourhood, with a native bouquet sourced from the adjacent Blooms of Braddon florist. It featured Geraldton wax, banksias, wattle, sea holly, and South African proteas. Finding a model for the central vase, however, proved a greater challenge. Envisioning a piece inspired by Chinese urns and his own heritage, Tan searched for weeks. The elusive vase was finally discovered on a shelf at TK Maxx, serving as the perfect reference for the painted centrepiece. "It won't break," Tan noted, contrasting his permanent artwork with the fragility of a real Ming vase.
A Community Canvas Funded by Local Levy
The 24-metre-tall artwork on the side of the Branx building, next to Assembly pub, is more than just a personal achievement; it's a community-funded project. Tan received approximately $36,000 from the City Renewal Authority's placemaking grants program. This program is financed by the City Centre Marketing and Improvements Levy, paid by Braddon and Civic businesses, alongside the authority itself.
The same grant scheme also supports initiatives like Lakespeare, the Belco Bowl Jam, and ACT Jam BMX for the 2025-26 period. It is part of the wider marketing program that funds the distinctive $9,650-a-year flower planters dotted around Civic and Braddon.
Tan's process involved priming the vast concrete canvas, adding a painting guide, sketching the design, and finally filling it with colour. The small grid-like symbols visible on the wall are part of his meticulous sketching process, ensuring the large-scale design remained accurate.
Adding to Braddon's Open-Air Gallery
Braddon is now home to more than 25 murals, with the Braddon Collective offering street art tours for visitors and locals alike. Tan's 'Flourish' adds a significant new piece to this urban tapestry. The artist aimed to complete the work before Christmas, adding final touches like bumblebees and butterflies to the vase and flowers.
For Tan, the project represents a positive transformation of public space. "Instead of having bad graffiti, we have good graffiti," he said. While the scale of the project left him unsure of his feelings during the process, he anticipated a wave of happiness upon its completion. His work has successfully turned a grey car park wall into a lasting symbol of growth and natural beauty, high above the streets of the capital.
