Bayley Mifsud's new partnership with Swatch will see the First Nations artist's work feature in the company's 'Destination Art watches' collection.
Each inspired by a specific place and brought to life through a collaboration with a local artist, the Destination Art watches strive to celebrate both the participating artist and their culture.
For this special Swatch Destination Art release, TIRRIKE (pronounced tira-key), Mifsud, a proud Peek Whurrong woman of the Maar nation, from south West Victoria (Warrnambool), has created an original work of that spans both the watch and its custom packaging. Mifsud's design brings together ancestral symbolism and rich storytelling, offering a vibrant journey through Naarm's streets, culture, and people.
More specifically, the watch pays tribute to Naarm, meaning "Place" in the language of the Woiwurrung people of the Kulin Nation. It captures the natural beauty of the area, from the flowing lines of the Birrarung Marr (Yarra River) to the tracks of local wildlife such as emus and kangaroos.
At its centre, the dial features a meeting place surrounded by people, representing the enduring tradition of gathering on this land for thousands of years. Complementing the design are silver-colored hour and minute hands, along with a striking white seconds hand.
"Swatch reached out to me," Mifsud said.
"I'm pretty sure they found me through Instagram, which is wild and honestly such a proud moment. To be recognised by a global brand like Swatch, known for its creativity and bold collaborations, feels incredibly affirming.
"It's a reminder of the power of storytelling through art – and how sharing my work online can lead to opportunities I never even imagined."
"The watch was created via an artwork, it was with acrylic paint and then a high resolution scan was used to imprint it onto the watch. The concept is based around my understanding of Naarm and stories that I've been hearing since I was a little girl," she said.
"As an Aboriginal artist you always have to seek guidance from your Elders and their are restrictions around the colours you can use. I was really drawn to the colour blue for this piece because of its connection to water and my Elders guided me to choose the colours that spoke to me.
"The artwork itself is inspired by my younger sister Zali and takes on her Aboriginal name Tirrike, which means 'happiness and hope' in Peek Whurrong Language. The artwork depicts Naarm (Melbourne) and all that is important to it."
Mifsud shared that she has a handful of projects she is currently working on.
"I have a few collaborations in the works and I am always painting new pieces but I am actually headed off to Europe soon to spend some time with friends and family," Mifsud told Style Up.
"I will still be working on digital projects while I am away and you can follow me on instagram @merindahgunya to keep up to date with everything I am doing."
Available from August 1st at exclusively across Australia online and at Swatch stores.
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