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In July 2019, Chris Hemsworth shared a mural painted inside his family’s Broken Head home near Byron Bay. The artist was Otis Hope Carey, whom SBS NITV identifies as a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man. Hemsworth named the work Darrundang Gaagal (Thanking The Ocean) and described its references to ceremonial dancing and the ocean.
Who painted the mural?
Otis Hope Carey painted the large interior work for Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky. SBS NITV identifies Carey as a Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man and describes the mural as Gumbaynggirr-inspired. That attribution is specific to this reporting; Hemsworth’s explanation of the imagery is not a complete account of its cultural meaning.
Carey described the commission in a social post reproduced by PerthNow: “It was such a pleasure to paint and share a part of my culture for (Hemsworth) and (wife Elsa Pataky.” He also said he felt honoured and grateful to make a piece on that scale. PerthNow’s report reproduced his comments.
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What is Darrundang Gaagal?
Hemsworth’s July 2019 post named the mural Darrundang Gaagal (Thanking The Ocean). In the description reproduced by PerthNow and 7NEWS, he said the composition focused on representational imagery of Gumbaynggirr ceremonial dancing and incorporated traditional forms in thanks to the totemic spiritual emblem “GAAGAL” (Ocean).
How Hemsworth described the lines
- Black lines: Hemsworth wrote that “Long shifting black lines ripple across the wall demonstrating the power and energy emanating from dancing feet stomping the ground.”
- Blue circles: He said the blue circular line work referred to the ocean, in thanks for its healing powers and what is received from it.
These are Hemsworth’s descriptions in his social post, reproduced by 7NEWS; they should be read as his account of the work rather than an independent translation or exhaustive statement of Gumbaynggirr significance. PerthNow reproduced his accompanying comment: “Had a big empty wall that needed some love and was beyond thankful to have one of my favourite artists (to) help out.”
How did the commission come about?
Carey gave The Guardian a later account of how the project began. Hemsworth contacted him after seeing one of his artworks in the home of a construction foreman who was a friend of Carey’s. Carey said he prepared ideas in Photoshop and showed them to Hemsworth, who chose a favourite: “I sort of mocked a few things up on Photoshop and showed [Hemsworth],” he told The Guardian in 2021.
Where was the mural, and what do the property figures mean?
The mural was made for the interior of the family’s property at Broken Head, near Byron Bay. Contemporary property coverage described Broken Head as about 12 kilometres from Byron Bay. Realestate.com.au reported the home’s value as an estimated $20 million and separately reported an estimated construction cost of $8.8 million. Those were historical estimates from property coverage, not a current appraisal; the two figures refer to different things.
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What is known about the post’s reception and the mural today?
The Guardian reported in 2021 that Hemsworth’s July 2019 post had received 1.613 million Instagram likes. That is a historical figure reported by the outlet, not a current count.
The available reporting documents the mural’s 2019 commission and its display inside the Broken Head home at that time. It does not establish whether the mural is still there, whether the family still owns the property, or what the property is worth now.
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