From blah to bloody gorgeous: How a Newtown street corner became a happiness hub

“And I am kind of like, ‘Don’t you get this? This is going to make people happy. Happy people are healthy people’.”

She sees her corner as illustrating how the arts and the built environment come together. “You can have improvements in health and wellbeing when you have beautiful buildings and beautiful art.”

In February, British Medical Journal The Lancet wrote about the growing body of evidence showing art could improve health, and prevent and manage illness. Because of social change and uncertainty including the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an “ever-increasing need” for interventions to address health inequalities, mental illness, loneliness, and isolation.

The arts were also cost-effective. The Australia Council for the Arts says it can also provide “returns on investment across health services and social care, helping meet major challenges such as ageing, loneliness, chronic conditions and mental health”

Van de Haar and Hixon started discussing the project during the pandemic in 2021. Hixon’s brief was: “I love this neighbourhood, I love my neighbours, and I just want someone to smile when they walk down the street.”

Van de Haar said the mural had taken Hixon’s home “from bland to beautiful, beige to blue, and from blah to bloody gorgeous.”

The mural was named Arc Angel by van de Haar, a play on the angle of its corner location and angel.

“An angel is like a messenger. The work announces the intersection saying, here is a place where people intersect, gather, and it makes that experience joyful, beautiful and uplifting.“

To identify the right colours and develop the design, van de Haar, an architectural colour specialist, walked the neighbourhood looking at colours and shapes. She was also inspired by Hixon’s home, which included prints by the famous colourist and artist, Josef Albers.

“Colour is a connective element,” said van de Haar. “And across a city, a room, if there is repetition or pattern, our brains recognise that pattern and enjoy it.”

Van de Haar has been overwhelmed by the positive response. “People tell me they are crossing the bridge [from the North Shore] in the city to see it,” she said.

A spokesperson for the City of Sydney said the council encouraged high-quality art like Hixon’s in private developments. “On a wall prone to graffiti, this work will enhance the architectural form of the building and the cultural richness of the city.”

The approval process involved checking that the artwork was in keeping with the unique character of the heritage conservation area and contributed to the public domain.

During the approval process, staff sought feedback from neighbours, and asked questions about the maintenance and lifespan of the mural.

Hixon said the wall had been finished with a special coating to make it easier to remove graffiti.

The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.