Australian actor Chris Hemsworth gave fans a sneak peek inside his estimated $20m Byron Bay mansion on Monday by sharing a social media post of a large mural designed and painted by one of his favourite artists, Otis Hope Carey.
The lavish home has been under construction for three years after Mr Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky started renovations in 2016 following their purchase of the property in 2014.
The Hollywood actor shared a gallery of images on his Instagram page on Monday saying he had a “big empty wall that needed some love”.
“Artist Otis Hope Carey painted this mural which focuses on representational imagery of the ceremonial dancing of the Gumbaynggirr people, weaved together with traditional forms in thanks of their totemic spiritual emblem ‘GAAGAL” (Ocean),” Mr Hemsworth said in the post.
“In this piece, Otis utilizes traditional symbols and imagery in grandiose scale in a display of contemporary practice and thought.”
Gumbaynggir and Bundjalung man Mr Carey, 31, is a professional surfer signed to Billabong and a renowned artist, presenting his first solo exhibition ‘GAAGAL’ in 2016 at the Sydney based China Heights Gallery.
"I'm super honoured, I'm super privileged, I'm so grateful that someone in his position notices the work I do... it's a very warming feeling," Mr Carey told NITV News.
Mr Carey said the mural was 4.5 metres high and 25.5 metres long, taking him three weeks and a total of 120 hours to complete.
The opportunity came about through a friend that was a foreman working on Mr Hemsworth's house.
"He (Chris Hemsworth) went over to [my friends] house once and my painting was hanging," said Mr Carey. "Then from there he started following my work and he approached me and we kind of just went from there."
Mr Carey said the artwork, named Darrundang Gaagal (Thanking The Ocean), was inspired by his "contemporary interpretation of traditional dancing thanking the ocean for all we have received".
The ocean is one of the Gumbaynggir peoples totems.
Growing up in Coffs Harbour and now living between there and Byron Bay, Mr Carey said he moved into painting around five years ago, but only started to take it seriously three years ago.
"I feel like the way my brains wired, it's very creative, and if I don't have a creative outlet I get depressed... I needed something more than surfing so I started painting," he said.
"My artworks more inspired by my spiritual connection to the ocean."
