Canberra's Spanish embassy is now the unlikely home to "Sarah", a nine-by-six metre mural created by street artist Rone.
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The Melbourne-based artist, who specialises in larger-than-life images of hauntingly beautiful faces, was invited by the Spanish embassy to decorate a street-facing wall on their building after winning their inaugural urban art prize.
After working with the likes of Jean Paul Gaultier and featuring at galleries worldwide, the man made famous by women's faces was excited for his chance to change the embassy's appearance.
"This is definitely a nice one for the CV to say I've painted at the Spanish embassy – it's quite an honour," Rone said.
"When it first came up, I didn't think it would actually happen. I mean I could see they were trying to do something big here but it's one of those things where I didn't think they would get it past the powers that be."
Once given the green light, Rone started the piece on August 22 and completed it by the next day. When asked why Sarah was chosen as the face for the embassy, Rone said it had never been a conscious decision.
"Sarah grew up in Byron Bay," the artist said. "I photographed her a few months ago and she was the first thing I went to.
"I chose this at such an early stage without thinking about what the impact would be. It was more about what I just wanted to do."
The embassy's intention was never to commission a piece of art inspired by Spain, according to the embassy's deputy head of mission, Cesar Espada. But to convey that, the art in itself reflects the Spanish culture.
"Every embassy is trying to give an image of its country, sometimes through the architecture," Mr Espada said. "But we thought art would be the best way to give an image of our country.
"The idea was not that we would have an image which would represent Spain, or the Spanish people, it's more that we are representing them by the fact that we are showing the art."
Artist Rone said the embassy had been co-operative with his vision.
"They totally just accepted my work – not just trying to fit it into being something as reflective of the Spanish culture, it was more my own culture."
The Spanish embassy plans to run the competition again next year.
