Banker-turned-barefoot artist and ceramicist recreate Klimt's The Kiss in six-year mural project

A Queensland-based couple has dedicated six years to meticulously recreating Gustav Klimt's iconic 1908 painting, 'The Kiss,' transforming it into a stunning glass and ceramic mural. The ambitious project, a labor of love for muralist Brett Campbell and ceramicist Kari Didi, has not only resulted in a remarkable artwork but also deepened their connection and renewed their passion for art.

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At the time, we … said, 'Oh, this could take a whole year.' That was six years ago.

Campbell's journey into art began after leaving a soul-destroying career as a bank manager. He described the corporate world as one where he often found himself crying on his way to work, hating the way people were treated and the hierarchy of multiple bosses. His weekends, spent pottering barefoot in the garden and creating mosaics, provided the inspiration to leave his 9-to-5 job. He famously walked out of the bank declaring he could no longer endure the work, discarding his shoes and tie, a commitment to a barefoot lifestyle he has maintained ever since.

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Some days, I would actually be crying on my way to work. I hated it so much. I hated it. I hated the way we treated people and … I hated having so many bosses.

While Campbell embraced mosaics, Didi, a ceramicist, brought her specialized skills to the project. Initially, Campbell underestimated the complexity of recreating 'The Kiss,' particularly due to the extensive use of gold. Didi's expertise in utilizing alternative techniques, including gold glaze and custom-made tiles, was crucial. However, the finished piece still required a significant amount of gold leaf. The cost of gold leaf has dramatically increased over the past six years, more than doubling from $95 per booklet to approximately $230, adding thousands of dollars to the artwork's material cost.

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One day, he walked out of the bank saying, 'I cannot do this anymore. It's soul destroying.' He threw away his shoes and his tie and said, 'I will never wear either again.' And he hasn't.

The creation process itself became a shared experience, strengthening the couple's relationship. Didi remarked, 'Over six years, of course, our relationship has developed. We'd both look forward to those days when we'd get to do this massive jigsaw together.' The life-sized mosaic, measuring 180cm by 180cm, is now on display at the Maleny Yoga Shed. The couple hopes to find opportunities to exhibit their weighty creation, which requires a robust wall for support.

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Part of the reason I went barefoot initially was to harden my feet up so I could work on ceramics. And now I can walk on glass or anything and it doesn't really seem to penetrate.