Giant Darlinghurst mural a beacon of positivity

‘As One Door Closes, Another Opens’ is a new public artwork by Will Cooke.

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“I've done small public projects, but nothing that’s 100 metres up in the air!” Will Cooke said.

The Sydney-based artist and his team of crack muralists just completed the final coat on an artwork that's bigger than an Olympic swimming pool. His canvas is the Top of the Town building in Darlinghurst. The new temporary artwork As One Door Opens, Another Closes is part of our Art and About program.

A very blank, very big canvas. Photo: Chris Southwood / City of Sydney

Rolling out the brightness. Photo: Chris Southwood / City of Sydney

It's a hard artwork to miss. The scale and “almost obnoxiously positive” yellow and pink colour scheme makes the mural visible from as far away as Taronga Zoo.

A tower of positivity beaming down on Kings Cross. Chris Southwood/City of Sydney

“Originally I was going to tone it down, but in the end I decided to pick a palette that oozes positivity. You can't look at fluoro yellow and not feel something, hopefully happy,” Cooke said. “It makes me feel good. I hope it gives other people interpreting the work the same feeling.”

Will Cooke hopes that his vibrant work will bring people the same joy it has brought him. Photo: Chris Southwood / City of Sydney

While the artwork was pitched before the Covid-19 pandemic, it has special significance now. “The doors, opening and closing, could represent a re-entry into the city,” Cooke said.

As One Door Closes, Another Opens will be on display until 9 August at 227 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst.

As One Door Opens, Another Closes is produced by James Lesjak-Atton, Vieri Landini and Jarryd Lynagh at Funstudio.