Before South Melbourne had its familiar streets, buildings and skyline, there was Country. Artist Tim Terare invites us to look a little deeper.
A proud Mulunjali man with Australian South Sea Islander and Māori ancestry, Tim is a First Nations artist whose work explores identity, belonging and our connection to place.
Based on Yugambeh Country on the Gold Coast, his traditional Country, Tim creates across painting, illustration and design.
His artist name, Terare, honours his mother's family lineage.
Through his work, he brings together stories of people, landscape, water and sky, often revealing histories and connections that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Created for Local: South Melbourne, Two Tides tells a story about the relationship between Country, water and the places we build.
At its centre, intricate geometric lines overlap and connect, drawing inspiration from the architectural forms of the building itself.
Look closely and you'll see patterns that echo its arches, columns and structural details.
On either side, softer, flowing shapes represent the movement of water and the changing landscape.
Small mollusc motifs reference the shell middens and gathering places connected to the area's historical waterways, acknowledging a much older story of people and place.
It's a thoughtful contrast between the built environment and the natural world.
And a reminder that even as our neighbourhoods change, they remain connected to the Country beneath them.
There's plenty to love about South Melbourne.
From its historic streets and architecture to the market, cafes and growing urban neighbourhoods, it's a place with a strong sense of character.
But Tim's artwork reminds us that the stories of this place began long before the neighbourhood we recognise today.
As part of our South Melbourne Art Series, Two Tides invites residents to connect with the history of their surroundings and consider how Country continues to shape the places we live.
Next time you see it, look for those little mollusc shapes along the edges.
A small detail with a much bigger story behind it.
