Bacchanalia Bar

At the very start of the project, the space was extremely dirty and dust filled. The walls were a mixture of deep grouted brick and plasterboard, the floor was flaking wooden boards and there was exposed insulation from the ceiling.

Justine’s task was to paint all visible surfaces and create a fifty-five-metre mural that stretched along the entire perimeter of the space. Soft transitioning neon led lighting was added to the space. This was run on the flooring perimeter and also on nine large custom-made hoops that created dramatic down lighting in the space. What started as an undesirable space was soon given life thanks to Justine’s wild imagination.

The concept for this brand installation was to create a dark room (to cover the flaws) flooded with neon lighting that had the theme of a Bacchanalian feast. She wanted to create a modern take on the ancient Roman celebration and translate it into a way that was familiar and playful to today’s audience. The mural imagery was filled with humans, animals, Roman vases and beastly headed people all conversing and enjoying themselves at this luxurious gathering, all painted using Resene Lumbersider low sheen waterborne paint in Resene Checkmate and Resene Illusion.

Justine had two weeks to create this concept from start to finish, before the space was opened to the public on launch night of the festival.

This project won the Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior + Public Space Award. The judges said "blank walling is totally transformed with an impressive sense of movement, playfulness and colour. The careful combination of lighting with colour, brings the work to life, enhancing it and using it as a beacon to draw in the fun loving crowds. An energetic celebration dancing of colour for all to enjoy."

Artist: Justine McAllister
Artist representation: Eddie Zammit
Client: Stomping Ground Brewing Co
Photographer: Holly Hawkins
Winner: Resene Total Colour Commercial Interior + Public Space Award
Project: Resene Total Colour Awards 2020