Artist Tells The Story Of Italian Immigration With New 10 Meter-High Mural

Over eight days Italian street artist Alice Pasquini painted her largest mural to date on the facade of Melbourne’s Museo Italiano. Measuring 10 meters high, the impressive work is titled ‘Per L’Australia / Passenger,’ a nod to the hundreds of thousands of Italian who emigrated to Australia.

“The mural is dedicated to the history of Italian emigration to Australia, inspired by the works of the Italian Museum collection and documentation of the Italian Historical Society. A representation of the journey as an opening of possibilities, but also as a challenge to themselves and to their own identity,” shares Pasquini, who has painted across the globe, from New York City to Buenos Aires, Singapore to London. “The traveler, conquering their own growth, discovers their deepest essence, through the expansion of their horizons. The elaboration of the memory of the trip is also a metaphor for development, a tool to bring out the sense of the inner and outer journey.”

The Museo Italiano is located in Carlton, the historic Italian district of Melbourne. The CO.AS.IT CEO Giancarlo Martini-Piovano said, “When Ms. Pasquini approached us with the proposal of a mural which would represent the story of the Italian migration to Australia we were enthusiastic and felt privileged. Her work will be an icon in the centre of Carlton and we are very pleased to transfer her gift to Carlton and the Victoria Community.” The President of CO.AS.IT Ms Rhonda Barro, together with the Board, fully endorsed thE project.

In a time where immigration is an international issue, Pasquini’s mural asks us to reflect on our own heritage and how far we have come from our ancestors. “The wall is also personal to me, as I myself have family living in Australia,” the artist confesses. “I think that in our current times, it’s essential to remember that we all come from somewhere. Tracing a line through our ancestry, almost everyone has at least one relative who was a passenger at one point in time. We must remember this and the struggles they must have faced, and recall that empathy, compassion, and knowledge lead to growth.”

More info: alicepasquini.com