Mystery artist’s incredible tribute to Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin
A spectacular giant mural of the late Gold Coast snowboarding champion Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin has mysteriously appeared on a Victorian beach, attributed to Australia’s answer to Banksy.
QLD News
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A spectacular tribute to the late Gold Coast snowboarding champion Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin has been created by Australia’s answer to the mystery street artist, Banksy.
The artist, known only as Edward, used a small rake to create the giant mural of Pullin and his beloved dog Rummi on the beach at Barwon Heads in Victoria, where the Olympian was born.
Pullin’s partner, Ellidy Vlug, shared an aerial video of the artwork on her Instagram page this week.
“In the middle of the night while the tide was low @breatheablueocean (Edward’s Instagram handle) created this portrait of Chump and Rum in the dark,” Ms Vlug posted.
“So so beautiful and talented! So overwhelmed by all the incredible tributes across Australia and the world.”
As well as being a two-time world champion snowboarder and triple Olympian, Pullin was a talented musician and the video, filmed by drone photographer Adam Stan who documents Edward’s works, was accompanied by one of Pullin’s songs.
Pullin, 32, died last month while spearfishing near his Gold Coast home last month in a tragedy that sent shockwaves around the world.
Edward has been likened to England’s famous street artist Banksy, but uses secluded beaches as his canvas.
His works have included a 120m long image of a koala clinging to a tree on Barwon Heads beach after the devastating bushfires earlier this year.
Edward constructs each piece of art below the tide line, with most works lasting only hours before being washed away.
“I do it usually pre-dawn and just go and stand on the beach and get a feel for it … once the tide recedes, that’s the space because I need the dense compaction of the sand,” he told the ABC earlier this year.
“I kind of visualise myself 200 metres above where I am, looking down, and I know over the years I’ve learnt how to do a wave, or a straight line without cords and ropes. I know what it feels like.”