Dorsett Motors

Image source Taj Kempe

Artist: Jarrad Martyn

Asset Type: Mural

Year of Work: 2020

Location: 88 Steere St N

Provenance: Shire of Collie

Description: This mural responds to the past use of the site as Dorsett Motors, a Ford car dealership from 1930 to 1980, and as one of the locations of the Collie Co-operative Store.

“The mural depicts a scene of shifting different time periods. I am drawn to the theatrical lighting that characterised many car advertisements of the 1970s and 1980s, and particularly how this creates a sense of drama that encourages narrative associations. By playing with and employing these conventions, the scene becomes loaded with ambiguity and potential for multiple interpretations. The mural uses several different cars to signify the years the dealership was operational. The foreground prominently features two 1981 Lasers, typifying the closing of the dealership. Conversely, in the background, a 1934 Model BB V8 Truck illustrates its opening.” Jarrad Martyn