Artists: Stu McDonald along with other local artists.
A vibrant aquatic mural graces the Bayfair underpass, built to improve walking and cycling connections as part of the Baypark to Bayfair Link project.
The walls of the Bayfair underpass provided a canvas for local hapū to tell a unique story ‘Mai te Awa, Ki te Moana – From the river to the ocean’ with a mural featuring underwater and shore kaitiaki (guardian) species. The mural covers both sides and spans the length of the walking and cycling connection from Bayfair Shopping Centre to Golf 360 on the Matapihi side, creating a 110-metre storybook.
Led by Ngāti Tapu artist Stu McDonald the creation of the mural provided an opportunity to encourage talented local up-and-coming rangatahi (youth) artists to contribute to the mahi toi and make their mark on the Tauranga Moana art scene, and for the community to watch the artists and find out more about the mural and the stories it tells.
The artists used the underpass and toi (artwork) as a lens to paint kaitiaki species that are important to mana whenua. Being situated between the harbour and the ocean, this area was once abundant with plant and animal life including important sources of kaimoana for mana whenua.
This is one of the overarching cultural narratives associated with the Bay Link project and ties in with the existing mahi toi already present across the site.
The following flora and fauna are shown on the walls of the underpass in the painted mural:
