Infusing colour into the Arctic

The Arctic, traditionally perceived as cold and uninviting, has been infused with colour on the walls of Parresia thanks to the creative brilliance of Carramar Art Technician and Alumni Tessa Dorotich (Carramar of ’15).    

When envisioning the mural Tessa set out to challenge the typical depiction of the House mascot, the polar bear, which is often portrayed as a sad and lonely creature. By incorporating the reflection of the Northern Lights on the mountain scape and polar bear, she skilfully balanced out the whites and blues traditionally associated with the Arctic with warm pinks and purples.  

“Many paintings of the Arctic are very cold with lots of blue and white, I wanted to create a mural that caught the beauty of the landscape while also providing an inviting atmosphere and provoke a sense of House pride”, Tessa explained. 

Designing the mural presented Tessa with unique challenges, particularly in accommodating the presence of a cross hanging on the wall. Leveraging the power of Procreate, an iPad app for artists, she adeptly incorporated the existing features of the wall into her design, ensuring a harmonious integration of elements. 

Tessa’s talents can be seen in many spaces around the Carramar campus including Charis House and the Science Building. In the past years she has also worked on many external projects including a mural on King Street prior to the 2021 AFL Grand Final.