5 Minutes with...LIZ WALKER ‘Let's Get Real’

Published on 19 April 2025

1. What influences and inspires your creative practice?
   • I have always been influenced but what is happening around me - both locally and globally. I mostly made work responding to the political and social statements portrayed in graffiti for the many years I lived in the inner city but since moving to the Mornington peninsula , the environment and issues of waste have become my main focus. Just by living here and walking the local beaches it became very obvious that single use plastics and cheap plastic products are having a devastating impact on our marine and birdlife which has motivated much of my work over the last few years.

    

2. What does the term “arts and culture” mean to you?
   • To me, arts and culture is a term which encompasses art and culture in all its forms - the visual arts, public art, music, the written word, performance, history, our first nations peoples, the CALD community - everything that contributes to discussion, understanding, appreciation of or acknowledgement about what it is to be human.

    

3. Out of curiosity, what is your perception of Frankton? Be honest!
   • Hmmm! I feel Frankston has a lot of potential which is yet to be realized. I hear people refer to it as Franger, which I must say, always upsets me because it is not said in kindness but then I look around when I’m out and about and see the social issues on view and I can understand why they make this judgement. I personally like Frankston. I like the diversity, I love FAC, I love the train to Melbourne, I love the park, the hospital, the undulation and I love the beach. I think it has a way to go but it is a city with real heart and soul.

    

4. Describe yourself or artistic practice in five words (Note: you are infinitely awesome beyond these five words).
   • Sustainable, environmentally aware, original, poetic, diverse

    

5. What South Side Festival show/event are you most excited to check out this year?
   • Mine of course! I’m really excited to be involved this year and looking forward to working with community to create a fantastic installation about the impact of plastic waste on our marine life.

      

6. What song would be your theme song in the movie adaptation of your life?
   • It wouldn’t be a song but a wonderful jazz track- Take five by David Brubeck. I play it a lot and the meandering instrumental conversation feels like my life’s journey, reflecting all its different moments, phases, responsibilities, relationships and creativity.

See Liz's engaging exhibition Let's Get Real from Saturday 10 May - Saturday 31 May, in the Cube 37 Gallery.