Unveiled during National Diabetes Week, a landmark mural at Newtown’s Rising Sun Workshop is challenging misconceptions about chronic illness — and calling for equal access to life-changing technology for the almost 1.9 million Australians living with diabetes.
Some health conditions are impossible to see — which is exactly why artist Sarah Rowan picked up her paint brush.
Artist Sarah Rowan
During National Diabetes Week, the world-renowned artist Sarah Rowan’s landmark public mural was officially unveiled at Rising Sun Workshop in Newtown in Sydney by Jenny Leong, Member for Newtown and Member of the Greens. Created in partnership with Dexcom, the large-scale artwork is designed to challenge misconceptions about chronic illness and spark a national conversation about the realities of living with conditions that are often invisible to others.
Drawing on the lived experiences of Australians with diabetes, the mural seeks to deepen understanding of the daily challenges faced by almost 1.9 million Australians living with the condition — and to raise awareness of the need for equal access to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology for people with diabetes, whether Type 1 or Type 2.
It’s a significant moment: public art bringing visibility to a health issue affecting millions of Australians, their families and their communities. And for Rowan — a speed painter, keynote speaker and Creative Futurist who has been painting murals since she was 16, and whose live charity artworks have raised nearly half a million dollars for good causes — it’s the latest chapter in a career built on the belief that creativity can change the way we see the world, and each other.
Women Love Wellness sat down with Sarah Rowan to talk inspiration, community and the power of paint.
What was your inspiration for the mural?
My inspiration for this mural was bringing together the character of Newtown, the unique location of Rising Sun Workshop, and the message behind the artwork. The message was always the driving force. It highlights the freedom a CGM (continuous glucose monitoring system) can provide for people living with diabetes, whether they have Type 1 or Type 2. I’m incredibly grateful to have partnered with Dexcom to create a mural that celebrates equal access, freedom and community.
Tell us about your background as a mural artist?
I’ve been painting murals for nearly three decades. Most of my mural work has been for cafés and schools and, to be honest, I haven’t actively pursued a profile in the street art world. My primary work is as a speed painter and keynote speaker, performing and speaking about creativity and mental health at conferences and events around the world. I also create live art at weddings, sporting events and fundraisers, and love sharing the joy of creativity through team-building experiences and interactive events. So far, my artwork has helped raise nearly half a million dollars for charity.
The mural most similar to this in both scale and community impact is my mural of Olympic gold medallist Saya Sakakibara and her brother Kai. It’s painted on the side of Woonona Pet Food in Helensburgh, where I live, and attracted more than 200 people to its launch on the day our local hero, Saya, won Olympic gold.
Sarah Rowan’s mural can be seen at Rising Sun Workshop, 1C Whatley Street, Newtown, Sydney, Australia.
