News: Space jump inspired Brisbane's Banksy

Fintan Magee

Felix backstroke, Brisbane, 2012. Picture: Fintan Magee / Facebook Source: Facebook

Watch as daredevil Felix Baumgartner plummets from the edge of space and lands safely, breaking the fastest freefall record - and the sound barrier.

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner is re-imagined by Brisbane street artist.
Brisbane abandoned building given an artistic facelift.

THE SUPERSONIC jump undertaken by the Redbull daredevil inspired something in this Brisbane street artist. But the results are not what you'd expect.

Fintan Magee is one street artist who?s not afraid to think big, really big.

The 27-year-old former graffiti artist, Brisbane's answer to UK street artist Banksy, has just completed his most recent wall mural, drawing inspiration from the recent supersonic jump from daredevil Felix Baumgartner.

In his piece, however, the Austrian appears to be doing backstroke through water, as opposed to floating through space.

Fintan Magee

New Farm, Brisbane. Picture: Fintan Magee / Facebook Source: Facebook

The idea for the wall painting, which stretches across one of Brisbane's abandoned buildings, began as a joke. But the event inspired something in Magee and he began digging through photos of the history-making leap.

He decided, in the end, to change the context of the event to get people thinking about what the event meant to them.

Happy with the result, Magee sees it as a "light-hearted look" at the "amazing achievement".

Fintan Magee

Newtown, Sydney. Picture: Fintan Magee / Facebook Source: Facebook

Already an established artist Magee has traveled the world, visiting and decorating the streets of Asia and Europe, recently returning from a trip to Oslo and Copenhagen.

The fine arts graduate has completed pieces in honour of fellow Australian artist, the recently deceased Adam Cullen and sometimes takes inspiration from paintings from across the ages.

Starting out as with graffiti Magee soon outgrew lettering and "felt like larger murals were the natural progression".

Fintan Magee

Dedication to Adam Cullen, RIP. Copenhagen, 2012. Picture: Fintan Magee / Facebook Source: Facebook

Fintan Magee

Magee works on the Adam Cullen artwork. Picture: Fintan Magee Source: Supplied

Though he?s not predominately focused on any particular political agenda, Magee sees his work "as a way to get across a rough narrative", whether it is serious or humorous such as Baumgartner's supersonic jump.

Painting the walls of people's streets gives them a chance to see the works up close and encourages them to have an opinion on the art.

"It might stimulate conversation or be poked fun at. People can bring their own interpretations."

Fintan Magee

Picture: Fintan Magee / Facebook Source: Facebook

Scroll down to see more of Magee's work.

You can see Magee's art in person at an upcoming exhibition at Brisbane's Museum of Modern Art and the Queensland Art Gallery with the artists group Ruangrupa, from Indonesia.

Fintan Magee