Image: Jordy Sosnowski, Traces of Time, 2025.
21 April 2025 - ongoing
Traces of Time is a new mural commissioned to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hazelhurst Arts Centre. Created by Jordy Sosnowski, the mural is a dreamy and painterly tribute to Ben and Hazel Broadhurst and the unique sanctuary they created with their house and gardens.
Traces of Time interweaves the layered histories of Hazelhurst, a place where nature, memory, and time converge. Inspired by its past as a working farm, Sosnowski has woven in apples, peaches, pears, and strawberries, alongside Skipper, the beloved chestnut pony. The phases of the moon, nestled among ripening peaches, mark the rhythm of passing time and the ever-changing seasons. In one corner, a native Gymea lily stands tall, while rhododendrons—the first plants ever rooted in Hazelhurst’s soil—pay homage to its earliest cultivated beauty.
Echoing the built environment, the mural border mirrors the intricate Art Deco bathroom tiles and the handmade bricks carefully made by Maurice Broadhurst. A subtle army camouflage pattern can also be found in the border, honouring the sacrifice of Ben Broadhurst’s older brothers, who had a lasting impact on his fascination with astrology and extra-sensory perception. A swan glides through the composition, embodying artist David Rankin’s first impression of Hazelhurst—that "things could be graceful." Inspired by Vonnie Broadhurst’s words about the "peace, quiet, and beauty” of this place, the mural seeks to capture a sense of delicate, ethereal grace.
Sosnowski reflects: “I want this piece to feel like a secret garden—where memories drift like fallen leaves, waiting to be rediscovered. As one strolls through Hazelhurst’s gardens and is suddenly reminded of a scent, a story, or a fleeting moment from the past, this mural invites viewers to linger in quiet reflection, where time folds in on itself and the past is never truly lost—only waiting to be found.”
About the artist
Jordy Sosnowski lives and works on the lands of the Bundjalung people in Mullumbimby. She creates dreamlike paintings that instantly transport viewers to another world.
The daughter of creatives, Sosnowski rebelled by becoming a lawyer, before turning her hand to art and design. Compelled to paint she does so intuitively, with each mark on the canvas forming part of a larger story.
Sosnowski's work demonstrates there is meaning to be found all around - in small daily rituals, the plants, animals and music we surround ourselves with, and even (perhaps especially), in the domestic “mundanity” of objects scattered around the house. Behind all this is an unspoken narrative, filled with beauty, colour and depth. Sosnowski pieces are like visual diaries, layered with dynamic marks and meaningful motifs. They are celebratory by nature, reflecting a colourful optimism and joie de vivre.