Walking through the Lakes Entrance shopping centre, it is impossible not to pause before the vibrant new mural stretching across the walls of the arcade.
A graceful mermaid glides through deep ocean blues, surrounded by dolphins, seals, and a radiant jellyfish. The scene is both local and otherworldly — a celebration of Gippsland’s marine life and a reminder of the ocean’s mystery.
This striking artwork is the creation of Italian-born artist Marco Pennacchia (pictured), who has been transforming blank walls into large-scale canvases across Australia since 2019. For Pennacchia, this project was about more than just colour and scale — it was about weaving together identity, environment and community.
“The theme for this mural was ‘Coastal,’ and from the beginning I wanted the work to feel deeply connected to Lakes Entrance while also carrying a sense of magic and wonder,” Pennacchia said.
“At the heart of the composition is the mermaid, who embodies both the protector of the oceans and a mirror of ourselves, the human community that belongs to, and depends on, the marine environment.”
Pennacchia’s journey to Lakes Entrance began long before his first brushstroke on the shopping centre wall. Born in Treviso, Italy, he grew up in a family where creativity was stitched into daily life. His mother was a seamstress, and the flowing fabrics she worked with left a lasting impression.
“That connection to textiles, craft and art became the foundation of my own journey,” he said.
“It’s why fabric and drapery continue to appear in my work, as metaphors for memory, transformation, and identity.”
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