Celebrating the Biodiversity of the Orange Region

Floria Tosca

If you’ve taken a stroll along Anson Street recently you’ve probably caught witness to Sydney based Artist, Floria Tosca’s stunning Biome mural that’s in the works.

It’s 50 square metres of stunning native flora and fauna, featuring common blue banded bees, a spotted pardalote and golden mushrooms.

Floria is the fifth artist to create a public artwork in the central business district as part of Orange City Council’s FutureCity Public Art Project.

“I’ve always been connected to things from the natural world,” said Floria. “I wanted to show the complexities of how everything is interconnected in nature. We don’t see bee’s without flowers. We don’t see flowers without bee’s.

“I also wanted to pay homage to the ‘ordinary-ness’ of things, and how they can be really significant. It’s not always the big, fancy, glorious things that we chase, that bring contentment – well for me anyway, it’s just the ordinary things.”

Floria mentioned the love she has felt from the Orange community has been quite heart-warming.  

“People that walk past always stop for a chat and say how much they are enjoying the piece. The community really do appreciate it. Sometimes living in the country, (having grown up rurally), you get that feeling, it’s not as important as the city – which is so crazy, because rural is the beating heart of the country.”

If you are yet to see the incredible artwork you can find it at 213 Anson Street, near the Uniting Church park.

“I hope it brings joy,” said Floria. “That’s the main thing.. just a moment where they get that sensation, they can stop thinking about their lives, they can stop thinking about whatever it is they are thinking about and just be there.. to be able to give people something to smile about is awesome.”

-
Floria Tosca is an award-wining artist whose practice encompasses painting, drawing and animation. She has exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions, and her work is held in private and public collections nationally and internationally.

Floria joins artists Yanni Pounartzis of Canberra, Catherine O’Donnell of the Blue Mountains, and Sandon Gibbs-O’Neill and Tully Moore of Orange in contributing to the FutureCity Public Art Project so far.



Instagram
@floriatosca_artist
Visit www.orange.nsw.gov.au/gallery/public-art