Off the scale

14 Apr 2026

Produced for ESR Australia and New Zealand (ESR) as part of the company’s “Creative Communities” strategy, 'Chromatic Oscillation' is a large-scale public artwork spanning approximately 2000m2 of warehouse façade in Laverton, Victoria, turning the formerly bland frontage into a dynamic visual experience.

ESR commissioned Melbourne street artist, Drez – who has become widely known for his bold, geometrically precise works incorporating his signature gradient effect – to create the 216m x 14m mural, which has just picked up the Colour Maestro Award in the Commercial Exterior category at the 2026 Resene Total Colour Awards.

Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen was specified for the project in part because it has been formulated to ensure maximum durability in all exposed conditions.

Composed of elongated vertical strips of alternating colour, the work explores the effects of light, rhythm, and movement across a monumental plane. As viewers travel past the site, the colours appear to vibrate, merge and separate, generating a ‘rippling effect’ that mirrors the constant movement of traffic. This shifting perception ensures the artwork is never static; instead, it unfolds progressively, placing the viewer’s speed, direction and physical presence at the centre of the experience.

Several requirements needed to be met for the final artwork including durability, ease of maintenance and vibrancy. To satisfy these, the following Resene systems were specified – Resene Pre-Coated Steel Primer, Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen waterborne acrylic, and Resene Uracryl GraffitiShield.

Resene’s exclusive Total Colour System technology ensures richer, longer-lasting colours across a range of substrates.

Starting with a base palette of 28 Resene swatches, Drez hand mixed assorted colours to create about 300 variants in total, from which he created a combination of complementary and contrasting colours that together produced a striking visual effect.

“I love Resene for the depth of colour, vibrancy, glossiness, coverage and longevity their paints offer,” says Drez. “The pigment load of the colour is so crucial in my work and being able to get rich colours at full opacity in just two coats is a huge advantage. 

“The quality of Resene colours is key, too. The fact that there are so many different bases means that you can get those clean, pure colours – and that kind of purity in colour is crucial in getting the kind of richness and depth I’m after on the wall.”

Another benefit to using Lumbersider Low Sheen is the system’s fast drying (45 minutes at 18°C) and recoat (two hours) times, allowing for efficient application.

Drez explains: “If you’re just painting a wall in one solid hue, it isn’t as a big deal to have to do another coat. But if you’re working on a mural that has fifteen or more colours and having to do a third, fourth or fifth coat, it’s a pain to have to wait for each one to dry before moving on.”

Project: 'Chromatic Oscillation' for ESR
Location: Laverton, Victoria.
Photography: Studio Drez (www.studiodrez.com)

Published: 14 Apr 2026