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KEITH HARING MURAL
35 JOHNSTON STREET COLLINGWOOD, YARRA CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
KEITH HARING MURAL SOHE 2008
KEITH HARING MURAL SOHE 2008
KEITH HARING MURAL SOHE 2008
Haring Mural after conservation- Image: Courtesy Arts Vic
h02055 mural 2
h02055 haring mural 1
h02055 johnston st view
h02055 mural 3
Keith Haring Mural Collingwood Making
Diagram 2055
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Keith Haring Mural is a large work of art by Keith Haring. It is painted onto a cement panel which is located on the bottom half of the red brick wall at the eastern end of the former Collingwood Technical School. The cement panel and mural measure 7.4 x 11.5 metres. The mural has a yellow background and depicts moving red and green figures of people and a large creature. Three metal conduits and a pipe attached to the wall (three vertical and one horizontal) are also part of the composition (a fifth metal pipe and light which were originally part of the composition are no longer present). A small wooden door (measuring 70cm wide and 65cm high) has the artist's signature and baby symbol painted on it.

History Summary

The New York based artist Keith Haring (1958-1990) visited Melbourne between February and March 1984. During this time he created a number of works, the largest, most enduring and visible of which is the mural on the eastern wall of the former Collingwood Technical School. While Haring painted, he played hip hop music on his Kenny Scharf painted ghetto blaster, and spoke and danced with pupils from the Technical School.

From the early to mid 1990s the mural began to appear faded. The pale appearance was caused by a layer of white pigment which had migrated to the surface. The red paint was also peeling. Following several public campaigns, the vibrancy of the original paint was returned by conservation treatment, a technique which preserved Haring's artistic hand, or what he referred to as his 'line' later in his career.

Description Summary

The mural is painted onto a cement panel which is located on the bottom half of the red brick wall. The yellow background of the mural was painted using rollers by students of the Collingwood Technical College on 5 March 1984 using a colour believed to have been chosen by Haring. Keith Haring painted the red and green figures with a brush by hand on 6 March 1984.

The whole background of the mural is a bright yellow. The upper half depicts a green hybrid sphinx/caterpillar monster with a computer monitor for a head. The monitor has a red brain or intestines inside it. The monster is ridden by two faceless green human figures holding red radiating 'power' sticks. The lower half of the mural consists of vibrant dancing figures in red with green emphasis lines around them to create the effect of movement. A small wooden door has the artist's signature and baby symbol painted on it.

This site is part of the traditional land of the Kulin Nation.

How is it significant?

The Keith Haring Mural is of historical, aesthetic and social significance to the State of Victoria. It satisfies the following criterion for inclusion in the Victorian Heritage Register:

Criterion A: Importance to the course, or pattern, of Victoria's cultural history.

Criterion B: Possession of uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of Victoria's cultural history.

Criterion E: Importance in exhibiting particular aesthetic characteristics.

Criterion G: Strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons. This includes the significance of a place to Indigenous peoples as part of their continuing and developing cultural traditions.

Criterion H. Special association with the life or works of a person, or group of persons, of importance in Victoria's history.

Why is it significant?

The Keith Haring Mural is significant at the State level for the following reasons:

The Keith Haring Mural is historically significant because Haring's visit to Australia profoundly affected the course of Australian art. He influenced Australian artists, and in the time before mass media Haring brought the New York style of graffiti to Australia. The mural's popular culture themes, including an early warning about the effects of technology on humanity and the depiction of modern dance movements, remain relevant. [Criterion A]

The Keith Haring Mural is the only large scale and publically accessible work to survive from Haring's visit to Australia in 1984 and one of the very few of his outdoor murals worldwide which is still in his hand and has not been fully or partially repainted. [Criterion B]

The Keith Haring Mural is aesthetically significant as an excellent example of 1980s public art associated with popular music and dance culture. It is an outstanding extant example of Haring's work and demonstrates his strong confident lines, bright vibrant colours and kinetic figures. [Criterion E]

The Keith Haring Mural is socially significant for the diverse Victorian communities which feel attachment, associations and ownership of it. These communities include artists, the gay community, the general public, the Collingwood and Fitzroy communities, former staff and students of the former Collingwood Technical College, international visitors, people living with HIV/AIDS, contemporary art curators, conservators and heritage professionals. Little vandalism, graffiti or tagging has ever occurred on the mural also indicating, without words, the importance of Keith Haring's original work to the graffiti and street art communities. [Criterion G]

The Keith Haring Mural is historically significant as a rare work of Keith Haring (1958-1990) located in Australia. It is a rare example of an exterior mural by one of the most influential artists of the 20th century which is still in his own hand. Haring was is an internationally renowned Pop artist and was integral to the development of the now international phenomenon of street art. As a role model and advocate for gay artists, public and graffiti artists, and for his AIDS activism, Haring's influence was far reaching. [Criterion H]

The Keith Haring Mural is also significant for the following reasons, but not at the State level:

The mural is significant for its prominent inner city location and is indicative of the changing physical and social landscape of a former working class suburb. It has become highly valued by the residents of the City of Yarra and inner Melbourne.

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    • History

      KEITH HARING MURAL - History

      In 1982 John Buckley, inagural director of the new Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, first saw Haring's early subway drawings during a research vist to New York. As a result of their first meeting at this time, John Buckley invited Keith Haring to come to Australia; and Haring arrived in Australia in February 1984, for a month long visit. John Buckely arranged for the artist to execute major murals at the NGV (Feb21-21 1984) and the Art Gallery of NSW (28 Feb-1 March 1984).

      Aware that both the NGV and the AGNSW murals were intentionally impermanent, and knowing of Keith Haring's interest in working with and for young people, Buckely developed a proposal for a more permanent project that would possibly involve Haring working collaboratively with Australian youth.He approached Collingwood Technical College prior to Haring's arrival in Australia and orgnaised the Collingwood project as a permanent marked of Keith Haring's Australian sojounr. The mural was subsequently painted on Tuesday 6 March 1984.

      Notes about Keith Haring

      Born 1958 in the US state of Pennslyvania.

      1978 went to New York and enrolled in the school of Visual arts

      Begun his graffiti work in the NY subway in 1980.

      1982 had his 1st exhibition

      1984 visited Melbourne

      Throughout the 1980s held various exhibitions and painted murals throughout the world.

      1984 Rio

      1986 Amsterdam, Paris, Berlin Wall,

      1987 Paris, Belgium, Dusseldorf,

      1989 Pisa

      plus ½ dozen or so in New York

      Gay Activist and Aids Activist, his life and work were influential

      He died in February 1990. He was only 33

      Permit Exemptions

      KEITH HARING MURAL - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      PERMIT EXEMPTIONS
       
      General Conditions: 1.
      All exempted alterations are to be planned and carried out in a manner which prevents damage to the fabric of the registered place or object.

      General Conditions: 2.
      Should it become apparent during further inspection or the carrying out of works that original or previously hidden or inaccessible details of the place or object are revealed which relate to the significance of the place or object, then the exemption covering such works shall cease and Heritage Victoria shall be notified as soon as possible. 
       
      General Conditions: 3.
      Nothing in this determination prevents the Heritage Council from amending or rescinding all or any of the permit exemptions
       
      General Conditions: 4.
      Nothing in this determination exempts owners or their agents from the responsibility to seek relevant planning or building permits from the responsible authorities where applicable.

      Specific exemptions:
      Internal works to the non-registered areas of Building F of the former Collingwood Technical College should be undertaken so they do not transfer any vibration to the mural.
       
      The following works do not require a permit:
       
      1. Maintenance and repair works to the following, providing that these works do not impact (including through vibration) on the mural or the cement panel: 

      . Walls along Johnston Street
       
      . Wall above the mural
       
      . Gate
       
      . Road reserve in front of the gate and Johnston St walls

      . Asphalt and kerb more than 0.4m in front of the mural
       
      . Footpath, garden and car parks on the south east side of mural

      . Tree and surrounding garden.
       
      2. Graffiti removal to the north and south walls of Building F providing a waterproof physical barrier is erected to protect the mural; and graffiti removal methods are implemented as needed to ensure that the mural is fully protected from all chemicals, water and other graffiti removal tools and materials.
       
      3. Research and testing on any paint used to graffiti the Keith Haring Mural. This must be conducted by a conservator qualified in painted mural conservation and only to the extent required to formulate a proposal to remove this graffiti and provide this report to the Executive Director.

      4. Graffiti reduction and removal, and maintenance of a permit approved mural protective coating and sacrificial graffiti barrier by a qualified mural conservator. The works themselves must be undertaken or continuously supervised by a qualified mural conservator. The Executive Director must be notified within seven days of the commencement of these works and must be provided with the qualifications of the conservator as well as a full condition and treatment report including before and after treatment photographs prepared by the qualified mural conservator within seven days of the conclusion of these works. The report should also demonstrate that the works have ensured that the conservation of the mural is not threatened.

      5. A permit will be required if the registered door is relocated from the Public Record Office Victoria for exhibition or safe keeping purposes. However, once it is located in an approved institution, the conservation, research or analysis of the registered door is exempt from requiring a permit where the activity is performed in accordance with the accepted standards, policies and procedures of the National Gallery of Victoria. A permit would be needed to return the door to the mural. 
       
      6. Works to any replica door (re-produced from the registered door) except for works that impact on the mural wall.

      7. Works to the non-original yellow painted wooden door (currently in place on the mural as at May 2014) except for works that impact on the mural wall.

      8. Maintenance of roof and rainwater goods to Building F providing that these works do not transfer any vibration to the mural or cement panel or have any other impact on the mural or cement panel. Where these works take place directly above the mural or close to the edges of the mural a waterproof physical barrier should be erected between the works and the mural to ensure that the mural is fully protected from all chemicals, water, tools and other materials.
       
      9. Temporary scaffolding providing that the scaffolding does not touch the mural or transfer any vibration to the mural or cement panel or have any other impact on the mural or cement panel.
       
      10. Installation of free standing signs in the garden surrounding the tree or on the Johnston Street walls and changing of the skins on the existing free standing signs.

      11. Removal of existing sign and attachment of a new sign to the existing signage frame on Johnston Street providing that these works do not transfer any vibration to the mural or have any other impact on the mural or cement panel.

      Temporary signage associated with construction projects provided this does not obscure views to the mural from within or outside the site.

      Permit Exemption Policy

      KEITH HARING MURAL - Permit Exemption Policy

      The purpose of the Permit Policy is to assist when considering or making decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that any proposed works be discussed with Heritage Victoria prior to making a permit application. Discussing proposed works will assist in answering any questions the owner may have and aid any decisions regarding works to the place. It is recommended that a Conservation Management Plan, which includes the results of the 2013 conservation treatment, is undertaken to assist with the future management of the cultural significance of the place. 

      The extent of registration protects the whole site. The addition of new structures to the site may impact upon the cultural heritage significance of the place and requires a permit. The purpose of this requirement is not to prevent any further development on this site, but to enable control of possible adverse impacts on heritage significance during that process. 

      The most current Conservation Policy of the National Gallery of Victoria should guide any works to the mural. This policy is updated regularly by the National Gallery of Victoria.

      Any works, conservation or maintenance of the paint and cement of the mural is to be undertaken by a professional conservator(s) specialised in wall painting conservation. The conservator(s) should be a member of and bound by the Code of Ethics and Practice of the AICCM Inc. or an international materials conservation association. 

      Any treatments should ensure retention of the original paint on the cement and ensure that it remains visible to the public. Repainting is discouraged; however, inpainting to the extent of reintegrating the composition may be permitted, subject to a permit. The red and green paint applied by Keith Haring is of greater significance than the yellow paint applied some of the students of the former Collingwood Technical College although the colour was chosen by Haring. The original colours of the paint as identified by the 2013 colorimetric analysis should be conserved. Removal of inpainting may be permitted, subject to a permit.

      Any works to the building wall and foundations of the mural must be supervised by a professional conservator(s) specialised in wall painting conservation to ensure the mural is not damaged. The conservator(s) should be a member of and bound by the Code of Ethics and Practice of the AICCM Inc. or an international materials conservation association. 

      When the mural was painted by Haring there were a number of components already attached to the wall. Haring used these as part of the composition. Two have been lost and consideration could be given to replacing these with replicas as they were an important part of the composition. These items appear in contemporary photographs and are:

      . A light, two rectangular plates and their bolts and a short vertical extension of the adjoining horizontal 6cm circumference conduit

      . A vertical L-shaped pipe approx 13.5cm in circumference on the north end of the mural.

  • Notes See all notes

    Keith Haring Mural

    17/11/14

    The mural has just been restored - looks amazing now.

    Tours involving this place See all tours

    Melbourne Murals

    30/11/11

    Hosies Hotel Mural - Keith Haring Mural - History Of Transport Mural - Beaurepaire Centre - Newspaper House Mosaic - Cafe Florentino - Tolarno Hotel

Public contributions

Notes See all notes

Keith Haring Mural

17/11/14

The mural has just been restored - looks amazing now.

Tours involving this place See all tours

Melbourne Murals

30/11/11

Hosies Hotel Mural - Keith Haring Mural - History Of Transport Mural - Beaurepaire Centre - Newspaper House Mosaic - Cafe Florentino - Tolarno Hotel

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