It’s that time of year again when Birchip will celebrate the Mali Heart Festival, and this year another wall will be transformed into a breathtaking work of art for locals and visitors to admire.

Over the next week, keep an eye out as Maha (Matt Hannah) works his magic on the south wall of the Commonwealth bank building, turning the blank brick wall into something extraordinary. 

What do you think this year’s mural will be? Drop your best guess into the comments page on Birchip Community Forum’s facebook page or let President Steve Nottle know. The closest description will win a Mali Heart stubby holder! 

Birchip Community Forum is very grateful to the Birchip Hotel for generously donating Maha’s accommodation and Noonan Builders for providing the scissor lift to help bring the mural to life.

Maha is no stranger to Birchip, he has already painted the Kelpie dog on the post office wall and the horses drinking from Bill’s trough on the Historical Society wall. 

Maha uses spray paints, brush, and roller to create hyper-realistic artworks. Drawing on his 15-year practice of using spray paint, Maha’s work attempts to merge the worlds of street art and fine art. 

His figures share a connection to their background, whether that be reflected through a shared palette or as seen through the layering of transparent figures with suggestions of a fading sense of identity while also exploring our own connection to and place in our world. 

Stay tuned for the big reveal at the Mali Heart Festival on Saturday and of course, don’t forget to say hi to Matt as he brings this masterpiece to life!