Gaston Duflos Mural
Gaston Duflos Mural
Gaston has lived in Bondi since 2018. He came here shortly after arriving in Australia from his Argentinian homeland. “It was my first day here (in Australia), and like many new visitors, I went straight to Bondi. I was amazed by the beautiful blue-green water and how clean the beach was. I fell in love with Bondi and decided to rent a room here. Those years were some of the best times of my life. I enjoyed going to local pubs, watching sunrises at North Bondi, and sunsets at the Reserve. I even met my wonderful partner Valentina in Bondi when she moved into the same house I was living in. Bondi has been a big part of my life for the past five years.”
We asked Gaston what motivates him.
“I am motivated by my dreams and doing what I love. Every night, I think about my dreams, and every morning, I wake up with a plan to make them come true. And they are coming true! Two years ago, a friend suggested that I should apply to paint a mural at the Bondi Beach Sea Wall. I wasn't sure if I could, but I did some research, designed a meaningful and positive artwork for the community, and applied. To my surprise, my design was selected, and I received an email telling me that I could paint it. It was a dream come true, something I had wanted since I first walked on the beach”.
How do you spend the first hour of your day?
“It depends on the day. Usually, during the week, I wake up and go to the balcony to get some fresh air and stretch my body. I have a drink called "mate," which is an Argentinian tea, while sitting in the sunlight. If it's not too cold, I also go for a walk. On weekends, it's a bit different. I like to go to the gym in the morning or just stay in bed with my partner, enjoying a cup of coffee and an acai bowl.”
Can you tell us about your mural?
“I am very happy to have the opportunity to paint a mural at Bondi Beach. The experience has been amazing, especially talking to people. Instead of finishing the mural quickly during the week, I chose to work on it only on Saturday mornings so that I could talk to more people. The mural features my two favorite characters, which I often draw and paint—dogs! I love dogs! They are depicted enjoying a sunny day in Sydney while looking at the beautiful turquoise water of Bondi Beach”.
