Three carriages of Australia's iconic transcontinental train, the Ghan, have had a colourful makeover by Arrernte artist Chantelle Mulladad.
The new look is designed showcase this year's Parrtjima light festival, in the heart of Australia next month.
Ms Mulladad paints for the Keringke Arts, an Indigenous community art centre based at Ltyentye Apurte (Santa Teresa), 85 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs.
Ms Mulladad's painting, Crossroads, is about travelling across country on a journey.
"The colours are blue, green, blueish-green and it's all matching colours on the side, which really made [the artwork] come out," she said.
This is the first time Ms Mulladad's artwork has been included in the Parrtjima festival and on display on this scale.
The artwork has been transformed onto decals each measuring 23.5m long for the three train carriages.
Ms Mulladad said the inspiration for the piece has come from her culture and land.
"It was from when I was a teenager and is in two parts: the right path and the wrong," she said.
Economic benefit
Bryce Hartnett is Keringke art centre manager and said that the whole community is proud of Ms Mulladad's after seeing photos of her artwork on the side of the Ghan.
"The ladies came up afterwards and were saying how proud it made them even though it wasn't their artwork," he said.
Mr Hartnett said that the flow-on effects for the community and the art centre were wide-ranging.
Mr Hartnett said that in a post-COVID-19 world it was important for tourists to visit the community art centres.
"The [art centres are often] the only business in many communities that would be bringing money into the community," he said.
