On-site artwork reflects founder experience

Members of the UNE SMART Region Incubator’s community gathered this week to officially ‘launch’ and celebrate a colourful mural which is now a permanent feature at NOVA in Armidale - a site specific artwork that reflects the experience of many founders.

Artist James O’Hanlon was given a loose brief to consider as he created the mural for the NOVA community kitchen.

“Most founders share a similar story when asked about their start-up journey. ‘Backflips, slippery slides and steep climbs' often feature,” said UNE SRI Director Lou Conway. “James has captured that story well!”

The artist has been part of the NOVA community for some time as a regular hot desk user, and he has been able to draw on his SRI experience to create the mural.

“The artwork captures many elements of what we see and experience at the SRI,” Dr Conway said. “The lightbulb rocket ship might represent the spark of an idea, and how it can soar with the right tools and knowledge - but there are often many detours, hurdles and roadblocks that occur along the way.”

James describes the work as “a conversation starter”, and conversations are powerful!

Intricate details within and around this light bulb reflect the many small elements that contribute to creating something extraordinary.

James O’Hanlon is a talented artist, scientist, and writer. He is one of the directors of In Situ Science, a non-profit organisation that shares incredible information on the world of science. When James is not exploring the wonders of science and nature, he is sharing them through various art and storytelling projects. He has illustrated his talent across Armidale, including in the Mall Arcade, the Paper Tiger Eatery, and now NOVA.

‘Painting a corporate mural for a startup hub’, timelapse and mural by artist James O’Hanlon