Murals in the Library Study Rooms

Melbourne Girls’ College at the end of 2022 commissioned alumni artists Simone Scandrett (class of 2016) and Marnie Florence-McNeil (class of 2021) to create permanent murals in the study rooms in the library responding to the inspirational female authors each study room is named after. 

Simone’s colourful painted mural references the folkloric and surreal style of Margaret Atwood’s writing, with direct reference to The Handmaid’s Tale. The garden scene in her mural is an imagining of the Commander’s Garden (from The Handmaid's Tale), which is a garden that brings a sense of joy to the Commander's Wife and the Handmaids, providing a haven from their disturbing reality. The symbolisms used in the book that Simone has included in the mural are red tulips (which are compared to the blood of a hanged man, but also the handmaids themselves), dandelions (a symbol of offspring and pregnancy), oranges (a rare luxury which symbolises hope) and canopies of small flowers (which are used to cover up ugly truths). 

Marnie’s delicate grey lead mural is a response to the works of Harper Lee, specifically her iconic novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Central to the design of the mural is Boo Radley’s house with the tree in the foreground. Diagonally above, the main character Atticus is drawn in the top right-hand corner reading a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird with the title written boldly on its cover. In the opposite corner to the left of the house is a mockingbird flying downwards to recall the novel’s title. Directly to the left-hand side of the house the tree is repeated from a different angle to show Scout, Jem and Dill hiding behind it looking onto the house. To the right of the house is Boo Radley as he is revealed at the conclusion of the novel after rescuing Jem. Lining the perimeter of the mural are several small-scale figurative illustrations of the narrative.  

The murals have created study spaces for students which are truly inspiring and interesting to work in.   

In 2023 Melbourne Girls’ College has commissioned Rebecca Suarez (class of 2017) and First Nations artist Madi Mercer to create murals in the 2 remaining study rooms. Rebecca’s mural will be a response to the works of Helen Garner and Madi’s mural will be a response to the poetry of Oodgeroo Noonuccal.