00:00Music
00:00Tucked away in the tiny town of Rupinyup, Victoria, population just a few hundred,
00:26sits one of the original gems of the Australian Silo Art Trail.
00:28This is the Rupinyup Silo Art.
00:31And while the silos themselves have recently been repainted,
00:34today we're taking a moment to reflect on the original mural that put this spot on the map.
00:38The Rupinyup Silo was the very first completed in the Silo Art Trail,
00:42a pioneering project that transformed grain silos into massive public art.
00:47Painted in 2017, the mural was the work of internationally renowned street artist Julia Voshkova,
00:52originally from St Petersburg, Russia.
00:55Hello everyone, welcome to the Rupinyup Silo Art Trail.
00:57And I am on my object, Rupinyup, Australia, a beautiful view, and my object, my Silo Art Trail.
01:11I am on my object, my object.
01:13And I am on my object.
01:13So I am on my object, my object will be one of the most important things I have heard.
01:14Known for her emotionally rich black and white portraits, Julia's work in Rupinyup was no exception.
01:20Instead of rural cliches or rustic scenery, she chose to focus on people, real people.
01:25Two local teenagers, Ebony Baker and Jordan Wideman, both members of the local sporting clubs,
01:30stood tall across the silos, proud symbols of a vibrant, active country community.
01:35Julia's style is unmistakable.
01:37Expressive brushwork, thoughtful detail and deep humanity.
01:40She's painted murals across the globe, from Malaysia to Europe,
01:44but her piece in Rupinyup captured something quietly powerful.
01:47It was a tribute to youth, community and the everyday spirit of country life.
01:51Set against the backdrop of a working class town on Victoria's Wimmera Plains,
01:55Julia's mural brought in thousands of travellers, not just for the art, but for the story it told.
02:01It was never just about the paint, it was about identity.
02:04It gave visitors a reason to stop, reflect and connect with the town, the people
02:09and the idea that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.
02:12For over seven years, her work stood as a proud introduction to the silo art trail.
02:17Many still remember that first glimpse of the faces on the silos and the feeling that followed,
02:22that sense of something quietly monumental.
02:25In 2024, the silos were given a new look by acclaimed Australian street artist Smug,
02:29known for his hyper-realistic portraits.
02:32The refresh signals a new chapter for the town's artistic legacy,
02:35a way to keep the trail alive, evolving and relevant.
02:38But Julia Vojkova's mural will always hold a special place,
02:41not just in the hearts of locals,
02:43but for those who saw it as a defining moment in regional art.
02:46And if you wander just a little further through town,
02:49you'll discover another powerful tribute.
02:51This time, not in paint, but in wood.
02:53Rupinyup is home to a series of hand-carved timber sculptures
02:56by Gippsland artist John Brady.
02:58Each piece captures a different facet of rural life,
03:01from soaring eagles and a sunbathing goanna,
03:03to curious children and a retired farmer resting on a bench.
03:07The final sculpture in the series, titled Rupinyup Woman,
03:10was unveiled in 2024.
03:11It serves as a symbolic tribute
03:13to the strength and quiet leadership of local women,
03:16a fitting addition to a collection
03:18that celebrates both the land and the people who call it home.
03:21Together, these sculptures and the silo murals
03:23form a kind of outdoor gallery,
03:25a walk through the soul of a town
03:27that continues to honour its identity
03:28through art, memory and community pride.
03:31So if you're searching for Rupinyup silo art today,
03:34know that what you'll find is different from what once was.
03:36But for many of us, the memory of those faces
03:39and Julia Vozkova's bold vision
03:41is something we won't forget.
