The story behind the Griffith water tank mural and its Mongolian-born artist

Mongolian-born artist Heesco, 45, has spruced up the Riverina over the past seven years with his large-scale silo and water tank murals.

His latest creation is on the nine-megalitre drinking water reservoir on Griffith’s Scenic Hill, which he completed last Friday (18 October).

The Griffith City Council-commissioned artwork incorporates the themes of water, multiculturalism, agriculture, manufacturing and Indigenous heritage.

Region caught up with Heesco to find out the story behind his latest artwork, his unique career, overcoming a fear of heights and the good and bad aspects of climbing a boom lift to spray-paint his magic.

What exactly have you painted on the Griffith water tank?

It’s a top-down view of a kitchen bench. I tried to include so many different aspects in one image – but food connects people from different cultures. So much fresh produce comes from this area, that’s the basis of the main concept.

We consulted with the local Indigenous community on what would resonate with them. That’s why we have the goanna, the trail marks and the three main rivers in the area [the Wambool (Macquarie), the Calare (Lachlan), and the Murrumbidgee]. The circles are the meeting points.

Where did the ideas behind this concept come from?

Whenever I do a mural, I make sure that the content and the concept comes from the community – it has to resonate with everyone.

I’m a Mongolian dude who lives in Melbourne, what do I know? Everything you see there in the mural is from the area and based on input from the council and locals.

How long did it take you to do?

I thought it would be done in four weeks but it took me six weeks. I worked six days a week, usually 10 to 12 hours a day.

This is the most detailed and colourful one I’ve created; I really had to push myself.

How did you get a career painting giant silos and water tanks?

I’ve been painting since I was a little kid. It was very gradual; I started painting laneways and small one-storey walls. If you do something well, people start contacting you and offering bigger projects.

I did the first ever silo art mural in NSW, in Weethalle in 2017. Since then, I have done large scale murals in West Wyalong, Lake Cargelligo, Grenfell and Yerong Creek. I’ve done about nine or 10 so far and often come back to the Riverina.

Is it a well-paid job?

Any type of creative profession is hard, in general. Sometimes, you might have a good paid job and then you might have a month of nothing.

If you apply yourself, there is plenty of opportunities.

The more you do, the more your name gets recognised. I strive to produce top quality as my name is forever attached to the works. I can’t come back and touch something up.

I take it you’re not afraid of heights?

When I first did it, I felt shaky and very nervous. I was afraid of falling. I don’t think anyone is naturally confident at such a height.

But you soon realise it’s psychological. When you start painting, you forget about the heights. Eventually the wall seems smaller. People can get used to anything.

Would you recommend your line of work?

It’s not only physical, it requires mental stamina. I can draw a comparison with extreme sports. I have to train my body physically to cope with the workload. I paint with spray paint; it’s waving a can in your hand for 10 hours a day for six weeks.

But the job is also very rewarding. This line of work gets me around to different places, I get to meet people and hear different stories.

I’m a nomad, being from Mongolia. I love travelling. My family are just two generations from proper nomads. I still have relatives who herd livestock and live on the land.

Are you known in your country of birth?

Oh yeah, Mongolia is a small place. There’s not many people doing this; they all see it on social media. I’ve lived in Australia since 1999, but often go back home.

Is Heesco your real name?

It’s a nickname from high school that stuck. Now, even my mum calls me Heesco. My birth name is Khosnaran Khurelbaatar, which is hard for Australians to pronounce.

What’s next for you?

I have a couple of projects in Victoria, and another water tower coming up soon. There’s always something around the corner.

People need more art in rural towns. What I do is free for anyone to see. You don’t have to go to a gallery. That’s why I love doing this.