‘Adrian’s Boots’
2024
Acrylic on Canvas
1000mm x 1000mm
Adrian’s Boots continues Tervo’s use of RM Williams boots as a recurring motif for hard work, endurance and Australian identity. Painted live in 90 minutes, the work depicts the green RM Williams boots of Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner. Schrinner bought the boots at the beginning of his time as Lord Mayor as a subtle expression of difference, signalling his intention to approach the role in his own way.
For Tervo, the boots carry both personal and symbolic weight. In this work, they stand for labour, leadership and the public image of a figure who has played a meaningful role in the growth of Brisbane’s street art sector. Schrinner’s support has helped create greater space, legitimacy and momentum for the industry, and that support is central to the painting’s meaning.
The colourful bouquet of Australian native flowers overflowing from the boots represents that growth. It speaks to the flourishing of street art in Brisbane, and to the way belief, advocacy and steady work can create the conditions for a culture to expand. The piece is both portrait and symbol, using a familiar object to tell a broader story about civic support, local identity and creative momentum.