Splash of Colour
Splash of Colour is a public art program that celebrates our community’s connection to water, highlighting Western Australia's water cycle and the important role water conservation plays in the future of WA.
Have you ever come across electrical pump stations, brick wastewater pump stations and other small water structures where you live? They may not look like much, but they are part of a vital network of assets that deliver drinking water and wastewater services to and from our varied sources across our state.
To help us all appreciate how important these assets are, we work with talented local artists to turn these assets into works of art, bringing them to life through vibrant paintings depicting the local community, native environment and the importance of water.
Art through collaboration
Our local artists collaborate with schools and community groups who contribute to the creative direction, ensuring a local perspective is incorporated in the design. Students have the opportunity to express their ideas about water and the environment, what it means to them and the importance of water conservation.
Water plays an integral role in life and nature. And with a growing population and a drying climate, more and more people are relying on vital water sources, so it has never been more important to look after it and understand more about how it makes its way into your homes.
By understanding the journey water takes to get to us safely, we can all appreciate and value the process water needs to go through every day to drink and use it for all our needs.
Splash of Colour history
The program was established in 2017 and spans all corners of our state as far north as Broome and as far south as Albany. You will find a Splash of Colour and inspiration wherever you go.
Over 75 assets have been painted to date, reflecting our unique water story throughout Western Australia. We’ve partnered with talented artists and organisations such as the Community Art Network (CAN) and Local Government Authorities, who’ve helped us engage with local communities to deepen the level of involvement and understanding in the community.
Look out for the splashes of colour in your area
They may look a bit like this:
Splash of Colour artist - Jackson Harvey
Location: Fremantle
This Splash of Colour is inspired by the colourful abundance of marine life in Fremantle, featuring the blue swimmer crab. It highlights the importance of water and the ocean as an integral part of the Fremantle’s rich history as a port town.
Splash of Colour artist - Vanessa Liebenberg
Location: Beeliar
This Splash of Colour represents the significance of wetlands in the area featuring the Carnaby Cockatoo, an endangered species seen locally in the area, and a sacred Kingfisher, which can be spotted in the local wetlands.
Splash of Colour artists - Rod Garlett and Nathan Corunna
Location: Guildford
(Assistants: Lawry Holden, Moorditj Maaman Men’s Group in partnership with Community Arts Network).
This Splash of Colour celebrates the Noongar people's deep cultural connection to the water and land, reinforcing how precious and sacred water is. The mural features mooditj maaman (strong men) and the Waugal (rainbow serpent), whose body created the Derbarl Yerrigan and Djarlgarro Beeliar (Swan and Canning rivers).
Splash of Colour artist - Darren Hutchens
Location: Trigg
This Splash of Colour depicts the classic suburban icon, the front lawn, in a fun and engaging way. It hints at the importance of water in maintaining our quality of life, and how this impacts on our surroundings and the local environment. The spray painted work is a mix of free hand, masked and stencilled application
Splash of Colour artist - Pippa Scheepers, George and Gina
Location: Mt Hawthorn
This Splash of Colour was inspired by nearby Lake Monger, observing the Great Easter Egret. These birds can often be spotted wading in the shallows waiting for prey.
Splash of Colour artist - Samantha Prentice
Location: City of Stirling
Childlike sea creatures were used to bring joy and happiness to this Splash of Colour location. These creatures reflect the ocean through vision and the inner joy of the playful crabs.
Splash of Colour artist - Neroli Bynder
Location: Thornlie
This Splash of Colour is titled Water Guardian, featuring the waugal, an Aboriginal dreamtime creature that crawled through landscapes building communities and connecting to spirit by creating bodies of water sources – giving us all life. Look closely as you will see its body is filled with design inspired from Waalitj Deadly Sista Girlz students attending Southern Cross College.
Splash of Colour artist – Jarni McGuire
Location: Crawley
This artwork represents Whadjuk Boodja, prior to settlement the area was home to many Noongar mob. The country was shared by tribal groups and cared for by all for ceremonies and meetings. Whadjuk people lived along coastlines, river-ways and wetlands as there was an abundance of fresh water and food. All of these things are captured here in this piece through shapes and colours.
Splash of Colour artist – Armadale Society of Artists
Location: Armadale
As water continuously passes through our community providing environmental sustainability for our local flora and fauna, it is important that we each play our role in protecting and preserving this vital resource, that gives life to all.
Splash of Colour artist – Blake Poole
Location: Bicton
The sights and sounds around us inspired us to capture a feeling of this place, like a footprint fading in the sand. It’s simple way to show this space’s special qualities.
Splash of Colour artist – Nathan Hoyle
Location: East Fremantle
Titled ‘Moving On’, this painting is about river water moving towards the nearby sea, mixing with warmer currents and leaving patterns among the sand on the riverbank. The colours are vibrant and slightly absurd to reflect the waters intensity and life.
Splash of Colour artist – Melski McVee
Location: Forrestfield
This artwork celebrates the native flora and fauna in the surrounding water ecosystem. The Perth area has some of the most unique and fragile flora and fauna in Australia and by incorporating these species in the designs; it's the first step to creative awareness and understanding of their existence and survival.
Community benefits
- Splash of Colour murals improve the look and feel of the surrounding area.
- The Splash of Colour murals are inspiring, water-themed and beautify the surrounding environment.
- The murals are painted on water and wastewater assets throughout the community, highlighting and raising awareness of the vital role these play in providing water and wastewater services to residents across WA.
- Splash of Colour supports talented local artists, showcasing their unique style and skills in their community.
- Splash of Colour workshops educate children about water sources, the water cycle, improving water literacy and inspiring water conservation.
- The program also deters graffiti on painted assets.
How to get involved
If you are an artist interested in Splash of Colour, reach out! If we have a project coming up in your local area we can add you to the list for consideration.
If you are primary school looking to be involved in the Splash of Colour program, let us know! If we have any projects coming up in your area we can add you to the list for consideration for the Splash of Colour workshop. We can also put you in touch with our Waterwise Education team if you are interested in an educational visit to your school.
If you’ve seen a Water Corporation pump station in your local area that you think could do with a Splash of Colour, reach out! If we have a project coming up in that area, we will add the asset to the list for consideration.