Thirroul’s Tilly Kidd has the inside story
During the second Covid-19 lockdown my housemates and I worked through every board game and puzzle in our cupboard. We walked up and down the streets that were in the 10-kilometre radius of our house at least twice per day. We organised themed dinners and played music to match the cuisine we were cooking. Coming up with creative ways to pass the time reached a whole new level.
But my partner, Alex Pescud, put the icing on the cake when one night he declared, “I am going to draw an entire map of Wollongong”.
It was safe to say we thought he was going insane.
Alex has always been an innovator. In 2020, he sculpted a perfectly spherical world globe out of plaster with hand-made tools, before painting it in watercolour. And in 2021 he started sketching local businesses as a way to celebrate our amazing community. He taught himself to draw by watching YouTube videos and reading books by famous artists.
Our friends and family often say about Alex, “You never know what he is going to get up to next”. And no one could have ever guessed that his next project would be The Wollongong Map.
Alex’s awe-inspiring illustration spans the city’s bustling port, the rolling hills in the distance and the towering escarpment that provides the iconic and dramatic backdrop of our town.
While making the map, he spent hundreds of hours walking the streets of Wollongong and conceptualising the scene from an aerial perspective.
We would often visit Flagstaff Hill to overlook the panoramic views of the city, the ocean, and the stunning coastline. Alex would look at the smallest intricate details of the view with an open sketchbook and a pencil in hand, patiently drafting every single feature one by one.
The bird’s-eye map of our city is an achievement that hasn’t been attempted in over a century, and I can’t believe that he is almost finished. Watching Alex through this journey has reminded me that achieving something meaningful takes time, effort and perseverance.
You can watch Alex as he completes his biggest project to date by following him on Instagram @TheWollongongMap or via his website www.thewollongongmap.com
