The large scale art that was created in Alphington Paper Mill to be destroyed

RENOWNED street artist Rone has secretly spent two months creating five large scale artworks, only to watch them be destroyed today. Check out his amazing work.

Rone with his large scale artwork behind him. Picture: David Smith

RENOWNED street artist Rone has secretly spent two months creating five large scale artworks, only to watch them be destroyed today.

The Collingwood-based artist, best known for his large-scale portraits of beautiful women commissioned from New York to Paris, created the pieces inside the machine rooms of the old Alphington Paper Mills on Heidelberg Rd.

The demolition of the brutalist brick buildings will make way for one of Australia’s largest urban renewal mini-­suburbs, YarraBend.

Rone with his large scale artwork behind him. Picture: David Smith

Rone’s large scale artwork. Picture: David Smith

Rone’s large scale artwork. Picture: David Smith

Rone’s large scale artwork. Picture: David Smith

While watching the works destroyed is painful, Rone says it is part of the artistic process.

“It’s not a happy thing to see but I guess the best way to describe it is closure,” he said.

“In this day and age, more people see my work in a documented form, either online or in a book, than ever will in person. It has changed the way I think about my work.

“It makes it all the more important once it is gone.

“This puts the value on to the documenting the work rather than the work itself.

“This idea has opened up a new chapter for me but it also brings me back to what makes street art and graffiti special: you can see it one day and it’s gone the next.”

Rone’s large scale artwork. Picture: David Smith

The site is set for demolition today. Picture: David Smith

Glenvill CEO and owner of the YarraBend development, Len Warson — an avid art collector — was instrumental in engaging Rone.

“One of our key pillars for YarraBend is the arts, so to start our journey with these works by Rone is very exciting,” he said. “This project marks the beginning of a series of artistic collaborations for the site.”

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