By NICOLE VALICEK
TWO German backpackers have left their artistic mark on the Louis Joel Arts and Community Centre in Altona.
Daniel Huch, 18 and Malik Keller, 19, from Hannover in Germany, embarked on a gap year of travel three months ago.
The friends met and joined a German couple in Sydney who were travelling to Altona.
They were introduced to the staff at the centre and have stayed in the area for the last two month, sleeping in the back of their Holden Jackaroo 4 Wheel Drive for the last two months.
“It’s calm here and you can enjoy every second, and it’s no stress in Altona,” Malik said.
During their stay, the young men volunteered at the centre and were given permission to use the cooking facilities.
Last week, Daniel and Malik started the next leg of their journey, but before going they gifted the centre with a special piece of art.
“(We wanted to give a) heartfelt thank you for the community centre that they gave us the opportunity to do the project and for their help and kindness,” Daniel said.
The talented graffiti artists painted a bold scene of Altona and the Melbourne skyline on a shipping container located in the car park.
“It’s very respectful it can stay there forever or a long time,” Daniel said.
Centre manager Jill Bilston said the art work complemented another painted container in the car park.
“It was very exciting because the container unpainted looks so ugly, now we have a piece of art in the car park … The two shipping containers now look brilliant together,” Ms Bilston said.
