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Local artist and social media sensation, Jimmi Buscombe, is brightening the hallways of Lyndoch Warrnambool and May Noonan Centre in Terang, and creating a buzz amongst residents and staff alike.
Mr Buscombe was commissioned by Lyndoch Living to create a number of murals around the aged care facility before his meteoric rise to fame in 2018, when the story of his wombat painting that inadvertently became a permanent fixture on a Warrnambool bridge went viral on social media, drawing attention from around the globe (54 million views and counting!).
Despite the ensuing influx of requests for his artwork, Jimmi has made the time to fulfill his contract with Lyndoch and has been busily filling blank spaces with his creative, and sometimes cheeky, pieces.
In one scene, a magnificent gum tree is teaming with insects and local bird life. But on closer inspection, you can see that a sweet, innocent little wren has deposited its droppings down the side of the light switch it’s perched upon.
Mr Buscombe said he loves that the commission has enabled him to portray his sense of humour.
“At the start of the year I was really questioning where my art fitted in,” he said.
“When the deputy head of nursing at Lyndoch approached me with this idea it was a real turning point, I realised that I wanted my art to be accessible to everyday people, and then of course the wombat incident occurred and the rest is history,” he laughed.
Mr Buscombe said he has particularly enjoyed the interest shown by residents in his work, some of them sitting for hours on end to observe the emerging scenes.
“One of the residents is an artist herself and she has been a great source of advice. We have really connected, and it was a real delight to overhear her commenting to her friend, after a long day watching me work, that she had had one of the best days in ages,” Mr Buscombe said.
“It’s this interaction that gives my art meaning”.
Lyndoch CEO, Doreen Power, said having Jimmi’s artwork adorning the walls of Lyndoch was a real treat.
