Painting a Timeline: a 70 Metre Mural for Southall

Joni Belaruski
Apr 13
2 min read

This project was led and art directed by Dish Haugsdal, and I worked as her right-hand woman on bringing it to life (along with an amazing crew) — a 70 metre mural spanning a bridge in Southall, commissioned by Ealing Council.

From the outset, Dish’s vision shaped the structure of the piece as a visual timeline split across both sides of the bridge. One side focuses on Southall’s culture and heritage — reflecting the histories, communities and identities that define the area. The other celebrates Southall’s deep-rooted musical legacy, tracing its influence and energy through time. The two sides work in conversation with each other, connecting past and present through the experience of moving through the space.

My role was to help translate that vision onto the surface — working at scale to build something that feels cohesive across the full 70 metres, while still holding detail and impact up close. It’s a different way of thinking about painting; less about a single image and more about how the work unfolds as people pass through it.

The mural took 10 days to complete on site — long, physical days covering the full stretch of the bridge. Working at that scale means constantly shifting perspective, balancing the bigger picture with the smaller moments that people will notice as they walk alongside it.

What makes projects like this special is how they become part of everyday life. This isn’t something you visit once and leave behind — it sits in the background of people’s routines, gradually becoming part of the fabric of the place.

Massive thanks to Dish for leading such a strong, thoughtful project, and to Ealing Council for the commission.

If you’re in Southall, go take a walk through it.

Photos below: