Mural Masterpieces - Auckland Girls’ Grammar School

Team:
Morgana, Jessica, Saacha, Scarlett, Blaze, Ranae, Alana, Patina, Aloina, Anya, Krisha, Maraea, Eisen, Shiori, Mione, Meena, Xeridan, with Yolande, Maree and Katy.

Accessible to public:
No.

Mural theme:
LGBTQIA+ Acceptance.

Background to mural creation:
The mural has many different features that combine together into an important message, not only for new students but for the current students of Auckland Girls’ Grammar School.

In the background there is a large red brick building. This is the most iconic building of the school – A block. It is the oldest building on campus as well as the original school back when Auckland Girls’ Grammar School was first founded. It is something easily recognisable by students and symbolised all students and staff as it is the heart of the school.

In front of the school building, a large rainbow banner if flying past. This symbolises the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole.

Surrounding the flag are various flowers – kowhai, hibiscus, frangipani and violet. The kowhai is the national flower of New Zealand and represents all the students. Regardless of ethnicity or nationality, New Zealand is their home. The hibiscus and frangipani are both very recognisable and iconic flowers found in the Pacific Islands. A large majority of the school is Pacifika. The hibiscus flower also had a double meaning. Around the school are many hibiscus bushes that burst into hundreds of flowers each year. Students will typically pick them and wear the flowers in their hair for the day. The violet is a symbol of the LGBTQIA+ community. In Ancient Greek times, if a woman found another to be romantically attractive, they would gift them a bouquet of violets as a sort of code to let them know.

Together with the building, the flag and the flowers wrapped around each other, the mural symbolises a new era for Auckland Girls’ Grammar School and hopes to break down the barriers that surround many of the students.