Into the Light is an eight-meter high mural by Gold Coast artist Loretta Lizzio. Loretta created the mural on the walls of The Star Gold Coast’s soon-to-launch residential apartments – The Star Residences. The luxury hotel and apartments combine the coastal vibe of the Gold Coast with class and elegance, just like the artwork on its wall.
“I do a lot of underwater photography as well as paint females submerged in nature, so I thought this together fitted the brief of elegant and coastal,” Loretta said.
“The woman is a sea siren-esque figure, suspended gracefully under the ocean's surface and depending on the light and the position of the sun, you can see her reflected across the pool.”
“Into the Light is part of ongoing series of sea-sirens and as an artwork, more like a vibe, or a feeling, rather than a story,” she continued.
The beautiful location of the towers was what attracted Loretta to this project; the view, the water and the building itself.
“Painting an artwork in a public place is such a different experience from the privacy of a canvas. [With this painting, I] wanted something that was very coastal and classy, with a flair of fashion too,” she said.
The mural took Loretta a week to paint, a scissor lift to reach, and the worst floods Gold Coast has experienced in years. “It was challenging. I loved the project, and I loved painting it. Everything was flooded, though, and I couldn’t commute between work and home, so I had to stay by the beach,” Loretta said.
Destination Gold Coast Consortium Project Director, Jaime Cali, said, “We loved the concept that Loretta came up with as a beautiful finishing touch to our recreation and relaxation space on level 20. Into the Light is romantic, restful and visually adds to the spectacular vista of the famed Gold Coast beaches and skyline.”
There are numerous art pieces from Gold Coast artists throughout the tower, including a series of three custom paintings by Remy Taylor on levels one, three and six, as well as other locally produced abstract and digital art.
The Star Gold Coast General Manager Hotels & Residences Mark Hodge said, “Engaging and supporting local artists is important to our partners and us.
“We want people who stay in the residential apartments to enjoy and feel part of our Gold Coast culture and community. Art helps to create that connection, and the stunning ‘Into the Light’ mural reflects a sophisticated yet laid-back resort lifestyle.”
Loretta sees art as one of the most essential things in life. Whether you paint or not, art makes you feel and gets the brain going, as Loretta put it. Art is a flow of thoughts and freedom of speech, and art in public places brings the opportunity out for everyone.
Loretta is widely established on walls and canvasses across the UK, US, France, Canada and Australia, including a silo in Brunswick, Melbourne and Fish Lane in South Brisbane.