Japanese muralist Koryu Aoshima, now of Dunedin, has completed a suite of three pieces around the King Edward St railway bridge that re-imagine Chinese mythology, in acknowledgement of the people who built the suburb out of what once were wetlands.
Aoshima’s work was commissioned by the group behind the growing South Dunedin Street Art Trail and the artist said he wanted to make an entranceway to the community in a "very Asian style".
Two pylons under the railway bridge now appear as totem poles, featuring birds and beasts.
One totem pole features the mythological "fenghuang", sometimes described as a Chinese phoenix, sitting atop a lion.
The other features one of Dunedin’s albatrosses sitting atop a tiger.
The nearby mural at the abutment of the bridge features a lion from a lion dance, often seen during the Chinese New Year.
It is led by a string of Chinese lanterns and goldfish.
However, in a nod to the railway, the lion is not powered by dancers but instead is combined with a locomotive as it emerges from water.
Although Aoshima said he moved to Dunedin a matter of weeks ago, his art has already appeared in the city’s street art catalogue.
His first Dunedin piece - a kea mural in St Clair on the side of what was once of a church - was a private commission completed in March 2021, after he became stuck in New Zealand during the pandemic.
Now, South Dunedin Street Art Trail spokeswoman Rachel Elder praised Aoshima’s work.
"He is amazing, isn’t he," Mrs Elder said.
Chinese people played a huge part in the early stages of the city’s history, and public art was "democratic" because everyone could see it free.
"When you see beautiful art you feel inspired in some ways to be creative, or hopeful.
"But it’s also about cultural identity and it’s really, really important that diverse cultures have an outlet for expression in the public realm that acknowledges their culture ... .
"It gives mana to that culture."
The street art trail group of Claire Rye, Victoria Gilliand and Mrs Elder received $23,000 from KiwiRail to fund the work.
With support from Creative New Zealand, the Otago Community Trust, KiwiRail, and the community, the nearly two-year-old group had secured six "fantastic" walls to become part of the expanding art trail, she said.
