Art should never remain confined to quiet, climate-controlled galleries. While physical exhibition spaces offer reflection, the pulse of a city lives on its walls, across its urban architecture, and within the movement of its people. Returning to my creative path in 2022 opened a continuous drive to explore how pure geometry interacts with physical space. Joining the Melbourne Street Art Collective in August 2026 marked a major step in that journey, taking the Roundism art movement directly onto the bluestone and historic brickwork of Australian Melbourne’s iconic laneway ecosystem.
Public street art is inherently a form of performance art I think. The act of creating a piece rapidly in full view of passersby transforms the painting process into a live dialogue with the street. It is also timed art. I accept that every mark left on a public wall may eventually be overwritten by fellow artists, weathered by rain, or transformed by shifting sunlight. That ephemerality elevates the moment, locking a temporary visual anchor into the permanent digital archive.
Geometry of the Void: Black Backgrounds and Spatial Portals
In high-density visual environments like Hosier and Tattersall Lanes, surrounding walls are saturated with layers of typography, tags, and competing colors. To establish visual clarity, my street interventions rely heavily on deep black backgrounds.
The black background functions as a physical and perceptual void. It absorbs chaotic visual noise, creating an optical illusion of infinite space where the surface of the brick seems to recede into an alternate dimension. This dark canvas serves a crucial technical purpose for “Sculpting with Light”.
By isolating multispectral, UV-reactive pigments against a total void, the glowing, edgeless circular forms project forward with maximum intensity, transforming flat masonry into abstract portals that invite observers into the Roundism universe.
Urban Canvas: History of Tattersall and Hosier Lanes
Melbourne’s laneway grid originated in the 1837 Hoddle Grid as narrow service corridors for logistics and utility access. Over time, these passages evolved into vibrant cultural arteries.
Hosier and Rutledge Lanes stand as the global epicenter of Melbourne’s street art history. From early countercultural colonization in the 1990s to Andy Mac’s City Lights Initiative in 1998, these lanes developed into a living open-air gallery where local and international artists share wall space. Today, this ever-changing palimpsest of urban expression is sustained through a unique collaboration between the creative community and Hosier Inc, an incorporated body of local residents and businesses dedicated to looking after the lane. Operating as approved free-paint areas, they remain a world-famous testament to the power of community-driven public art.
Tattersall Lane, nestled in the historic Chinatown precinct between Lonsdale and Little Bourke Streets, offers a distinct atmosphere. Defined by exposed brickwork, industrial shadow pockets, and nightlife hubs, Tattersall Lane retains a raw, uncurated character where street art integrates directly into the culinary and social transit of the city. Today, it stands as one of Melbourne’s council-accepted areas for street art, where public expression is welcomed and free from municipal friction. Introducing Roundism to these historic spaces brings a fresh geometric discipline to the street, contrasting the city’s rigid straight lines with edgeless, harmonious curves.
First Interventions in Melbourne Laneway Network
So August 2026 has been my first attempt at street art and well outside my comfort zone being neurodivergent person. But with a welcoming spirit form the Melbourne Street Art Collective I was able to feel comfortable enough even though a bit nervous and I managed to complete a piece n the 23rd of August and then a couple of pieces on the 30th of August. Hope you enjoy it below.
1. “Tattersall Pulsar” (Tattersall Lane)
Executed during a collective painting session on 23 August 2026 in Tattersall Lane, Tattersall Pulsar serves as the initial public anchor of the Roundism street cycle. Synthesizing a rich, painterly handling reminiscent of classic Impressionist brushwork with light-sculpting techniques, the composition translates the physical energy of the lane into a central radiating pulse. It was approximately 2 meters by 2 meters using ultraviolet (fluoro) reactive sprays.
My interview by Bitter_Munky & Vievero Stories on what I do in the street art:
My synesthesia allows me to process atmospheres, crowd movements, and ambient sounds as distinct spatial geometries. Tattersall Pulsar maps the sensory landscape of that afternoon, capturing the warmth of overhead string lights, the hum of surrounding venues, and the flow of pedestrian traffic into concentric circular formations and dot matrices. Set against a dark void, the luminous rings project outward, establishing order within the narrow brick passage.
Street Art Cities link for “Tattersall Pulsar”: https://streetartcities.com/markers/6933219f-b1a8-45b0-a04c-150f44658024
2. “Intersection Within Triskelion” (Rutledge & Hosier Lane)
Created on 30 August 2026 near the corner where Rutledge Lane arc meets Hosier Lane, this piece addresses the complex tension between physical human presence and emerging digital landscapes. Intersection Within Triskelion incorporates three radiant green rings in balanced triple-spiral formation, anchoring a highly overwritten public wall.
The composition explores the subtle dialogue between human consciousness and artificial intelligence, depicting those abstract forces as circulating, interconnected energy fields. Under standard daylight, the textured green rings offer a structured geometric focal point. When illuminated by ultraviolet light, hidden multispectral layers activate, revealing an inner rotational orbit that alters the viewer’s perception of the wall’s surface.
Street Art Cities link for “Intersection Within Triskelion”: https://streetartcities.com/markers/2a5e8d32-7790-4f17-afcc-36847af5c387
3. “Portales de tres a cinco” (Hosier Lane)
Positioned also on 30 August 2026 directly on the architectural brick archway adjacent to the Tres a Cinco cantina in Hosier Lane, this intervention interacts directly with structural building elements. Portales de tres a cinco features a cluster of vibrant yellow and pink concentric rings expanding across deep black circular portals. The circle son the right were positioned next to Artist Vassos work with paste ups of Do
The deep black bases dissolve the physical masonry of the arch, while the luminous yellow and pink rings cast an optical glow that projects outward toward passing diners and pedestrians. By framing the archway as a series of cosmic doorways, the work demonstrates how Roundism can re-encode architectural thresholds, offering a momentary pause of geometric coherence amid urban transit.
Street Art Cities link for “Portales de tres a cinco”: https://streetartcities.com/markers/45faa9d8-b02b-44b5-87dd-b410da170c0b
🔦 Unlock the Hidden Layers: Gear Guide
Because so much of my work involves “sculpting with light,” the daylight experience is only half the story. To see the UV-reactive layers in “Tattersall Pulsar”, “Intersection Within Triskelion” and “Portales de tres a cinco” as well as all my future street art, you’ll need a UV torch (ultraviolet torch). Funny enough while exploring these street art lanes I discovered that other street artists occasionally use fluoro or neon spray cans and paints so it’s interesting to see another layer not visible to the naked eye making these laneways even more interesting.
For urban explorers, I recommend picking up a compact, rechargeable light that fits on your keychain or in your pocket.
For pure portability: Local Jaycar “UV Light 3W with Adjustable Lens” via their website or one of their stores for about $20 and it’s a simple option I use. The other option is on Amazon Alonefire SV134 Mini is tiny, USB-C rechargeable, and powerful enough to light up a mural section.
For more power: The Alonefire SV16 offers a stronger 5W beam if you want to step back and see the whole piece glow at once.
My dream would be for the council to illuminate these laneways with ultraviolet or blue light as the artworks also light up with blue light and black or UV light. Image the night possibilities for tourists and Melbourne residents to enjoy after hours.
The Living Gallery
Expanding my practice from a traditional studio to the living, breathing environment of melbourne Laneways and beyond and joining the Melbourne Street Art Collective (who have been very welcoming to me, someone who is neurodivergent) has completely enhanced my relationship with my work. Street art is beautiful because it is entirely ephemeral; it interacts with rain and sun, shifting shadows, human friction, foot traffic, and the layers left by other artists.
This is just the opening chapter of my public portfolio. I am incredibly excited to keep pushing the boundaries of light, my synesthesia, and form across Melbourne’s shifting architecture.
To stay updated on my upcoming wall locations, behind-the-scenes painting processes, and reels of these pieces coming together, make sure to follow my Instagram @michalplisart and under the same username on TikTok, Youtube, Linkedin, X, Pinterest. Don’t forget to subscribe to this Substack to get the deep dives on my next installations delivered straight to your inbox.
Michal Plis Street Art Cities App Mural Archive
Street Art Cities was founded to map, track, and preserve the world's urban art, transforming city streets into documented open-air galleries while giving collectors and art enthusiasts an interactive way to discover murals before they disappear. The platform builds a permanent digital provenance for public interventions, allowing artists to maintain direct control over their portfolio and spatial narratives but maintained by a team of local street art hunters and reviewed approved by local street art cities manager.
My new digital street mural archive profile at streetartcities.com/artists/michalplisart embeds Roundism into this global repository, framing public Melbourne site installations as living explorations where edgeless geometry, light, and emotional atmosphere interact with the urban landscape. Who knows, maybe my work might appear in other parts of the world. Follow my profile on Street Art Cities for my future creations and interventions.
Bespoke Street Art & Architectural Mural Services
Following these successful public installations, the studio of Michal Plis now offers specialized Roundism street art and mural services for commercial properties, hospitality venues, corporate interiors, and architectural developments seeking a modern, light-reactive aesthetic.
After your business wall mural artwork is completed you can get an electrician to install permanent UV / Blacklight lighting from such suppliers below. I can suggest positioning of the lighting for best results and practicality and safety:
Indoor range from DJ City: https://djcity.com.au/category/lighting/light-effect/ultraviolet/
Outdoor options from Various Providers:
2 Pack Black Lights - 30W 395-400 nm AC85-265V Upgraded LED Flood Light with Switch, Waterproof IP66 - (Ledlightsworld indoor/outdoor full range here)
Store Dj - Event Lighting PAR7X20BH-IP Outdoor Pro Par Can 7x20W RGBWAU w/ Wireless DMX (Store DJ full indoor/outdoor UV range here)
Every commission begins with a site analysis, interpreting the location’s atmosphere and physical lighting conditions. Clients are provided with tailored Roundism spatial concepts, including custom background options (with background colours of choice or without), light-reactive configurations tailored to day-to-night transitions, and site-specific abstract explorations.
To learn more about my art practice including street mural art services or request a private studio viewing of my fine art pieces in Melbourne, please connect with me via michalplis.com.
Warm regards
The artist.
Michal Plis
References
My Street Art Cities Profile: streetartcities.com/artists/michalplisart
My Instagram instagram.com/michalplisart
History of Hosier Lane: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosier_Lane
CBD News - Hosier Lane history and culture; https://www.cbdnews.com.au/hosier-lane-history-and-culture/
Tourist Information about Hosier Lane in Melbourne: https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/melbourne/see-and-do/art-and-culture/public-art/vv-hosier-lane
Tourist Information about Tattersall Lane in Melbourne: https://www.visitvictoria.com/regions/melbourne/destinations/streets/vv-tattersalls-lane
Melbourne Street Art Collective Website:
Melbourne Street Art Collective Instagram: instagram.com/melbournestreetartcollective
Hosier Inc website: hosierinc.com/home
Hosier Inc Instagram: instagram.com/hosier.inc.melb
Artist Note & Permissions Disclaimer
All public works featured in this article were created in alignment with local community standards and as an official member of the Melbourne Street Art Collective. The installation in Tattersall Lane was executed with the direct consultation and approval of the immediate local businesses. Furthermore, my work within Hosier Lane and Rutledge Lane respects the thriving ecosystem of this City of Melbourne council-approved tourist destination, having received specific approval from local residents, businesses, and Hosier Inc.