Cement Frogs the Ghost of a Swamp by Wandandi Noongar and Ait Koedhal artist and designer Tyrown Waigana is the second in PICA’s annual series of mural paintings commissioned for the walls outside PICA’s public entrance.  

Waigana was inspired by the network of wetlands that were once a prominent feature of the landscape that is now Perth, where PICA is situated. An ‘urban wetland’ that was established in Perth’s Cultural Centre in 2010 in recognition and remembrance of its original landscape will be drained and infilled as part of its revamp, due to commence in early 2025.  

Reflecting on the incremental disappearance of wetlands across the city, Waigana looks to the Kyooya (Motorbike Frog) – a common green tree frog found in the region – ‘as a metaphor for an abundance of life both pre and post-colonisation.’ The iconic species populates the surfaces of the mural walls, painted against a blue background that hints at the presence of fresh water underneath the city and patterned with spots and patches resembling the skin markings found on the backs of the Kyooya. 

Cement Frogs the Ghost of a Swamp celebrates swamps as abundant places, vital for supporting a range of wildlife such as the Kyooya, and ecologically and spiritually significant to the traditional owners. Grounding PICA in its location on Whadjuk Noongar boodja, Cement Frogs the Ghost of a Swamp invites visitors to engage with the stories, histories and forces that continue to shape the area. 

‘Cement Frogs the Ghost of a Swamp will be a marker of place and a symbol of traditional Noongar knowledge as well as being a fun, welcoming piece for all ages to enjoy.’  – Tyrown Waigana