Haylee, along with collaborator Rohin Kickett, created a visually striking and conceptually rich mural for the pedestrian underpass at Whiteman Park Station as part of the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook line project. The mural, titled Seen/Unseen, explores the interconnectedness of water and people in the landscape of the Bennett Brook catchment, using water as a metaphor for connection and movement.

The mural is split across two walls, each exploring different layers of the geographical space. The first, on the north wall, represents the visible (Seen) surface water of Bennett Brook, as well as the Unseen subsurface water table of the Gnangara Mound aquifer. By juxtaposing aerial views with hydro-geographical mapping, the mural invites viewers to consider different ways of visualising place and our connection to it. Rohin Kickett’s artistic style highlights the Indigenous history of the landscape, blending Western cartography with traditional Noongar lore to display a deeply interconnected environment.

The south wall mirrors the design of the north but with a twist: the Gnangara Mound is depicted as a hidden void, representing the Unseen. Ghostly depictions of the animals that rely on the aquifer and the continued flow of Bennett Brook are featured, drawing attention to the delicate balance between the environment and its inhabitants. The map on this wall also overlays the local built environment, connecting roads and railways to the Indigenous pathways (Biddi) that link the land, water, and animals. This wall continues the exploration of hidden connections, now in the context of urban development.

The artwork integrates elements of realism through Haylee’s detailed paintings of Whiteman park’s native flora and fauna. These images, woven into the strata of the design, reflect the subtle, often undetected presence of wildlife in the park, creating another layer of the Seen and Unseen.

Seen/Unseen is a poignant representation of a landscape where people, place, history, and the present are deeply intertwined, showcasing the powerful role of art in connecting communities to their environment.