There's been a lot of hoo-ha about politicians using exclusive airport lounges but there's a new "executive lounge" at the Canberra airport that anyone can use. Scandal-free.
Artist Trevor Dickinson, famous for his depictions of the humble Canberra bus shelter, was commissioned by the Capital Airport Group to paint a mural in the departures area of the airport.
His bright, humorous work is now selfie-central for departing visitors and locals alike.
The "Executive Lounge" in the mural is one of his signature bus shelters, complete with a glittering disco ball for extra glam.
Passengers and visitors can perch in the shelter for a photograph - a lot easier and cheaper than getting into the Qantas Chairman's Lounge.
And there's also a chair (?), throne (?) in the mural for the prime minister to sit on - which can be anyone passing by.
With the airport piece, Dickinson is putting people in his pictures again, just as he did in his other mural in Canberra, at Westfield Woden, which was unveiled in 2019. (People can sit in a shelter under the sign which says "The Best Looking Couple in Canberra".)
And for observant visitors to the airport, there is a beautiful tribute in Dickinson's mural, to the late owner of the facility, Terry Snow, who died in August.
Snow's beloved cattle dog, China, is depicted in the mural, peeking from behind a hedge.
The wall in departures has become something of a temporary art space, with local artists Eggpicnic launching a temporary installation there in 2022.
While he's based in Newcastle, Dickinson has adopted Canberra as a second home, not least because he's found so much inspiration for his art.
He's continuing to add to his bus shelter merch range.
New this year are bus shelter shot glasses (including the iconic "Big Fat Poo" bus shelter of Narrabundah").
He has a new range of jigsaws, including "Canberra at Night".
And Dickinson's The Wonderful World of Canberra 2025 calendar is out, with a new perspective on the national capital.
"I've done a series of pictures, that are much more detailed images of Canberra," he said.
"I've been going up the different mountains - Black Mountain, Mount Pleasant and so on and just photographing the landmarks from the mountain. Then, I've been taking a slice of the scene, which is all compressed, because it's tele-photo.
"So I'm just zooming in on Canberra. And I want to keep coming back to Canberra and finding new ways of drawing it."
There's one "mountain" Dickinson has yet to conquer - getting some bus shelter toilet paper manufactured.
As he said, a roll of toilet paper is the perfect shape for a bus shelter.
While he's reached out to toilet paper brand Who Gives a Crap? to give the bus shelter TP a go, Dickinson has heard nothing back.
How about a petition, Canberra?
- Trevor Dickinson will be at the Undercurrent Design Market at The Vault in the Dairy Road Precinct from November 22 to 24.
