Murray Cod

In 2021, going into 2022, Lukas Kasper began a six-month full-time mural artist contract with Wodonga City Council. During this time, he was responsible for building each project from the ground up, handling everything from paperwork and permits to designs, confirmations, paint sourcing, and the painting process itself. This role required not only the creation of murals but also the facilitation of large-scale public art projects. One of the standout works completed during this period was Murray Cod, which became one of the ten murals in town.

This mural was particularly significant for Lukas as it marked the first of what would become ten murals in the town. If the community didn’t respond positively to this piece, it would have set the tone for the remaining five and a half months of the project. After researching the local environment and understanding what the community held dear, Lukas chose to paint the revered Murray Cod, a fish native to the local Murray River and known for its impressive size. He decided to bring it to life in his unique psychedelic style.

Lukas broke the composition into different visual styles, adding intricate details to the fins, creating flowing background elements with luminescent areas to highlight the large hero image, and using simple line work in the flatter colors to resemble wild scales. The mural was warmly welcomed by the community, kicking off what would become an incredible six-month project. Murray Cod was later featured on Channel 7 and 9 news, as well as being part of the "Upstream Festival" in town.