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Gold background with black text that says behind the guise of homelessness a living art installation sat 28 Jan Rundle Mall.
Andrew Baines

Behind the Guise of Homelessness

Sketch artwork by Andrew Baines showing a man sitting on the ground with his dog next to him.

Can you walk past the issue of homelessness? 

That is what acclaimed Adelaide artist Andrew Baines’s latest living art installation, in partnership with Lutheran Care, attempts to explore. 

Behind the Guise of Homelessness brings together several high-profile South Australians in Rundle Mall, although they will be disguised as such that passersby may not recognise them. Each will represent a living portrait of some of the many faces of homelessness, challenging stereotypes and reminding viewers that homelessness can, and does, happen to anyone. 

"Right now, 85 per cent of enquiries for our homelessness services are from clients seeking services for the first time."

Some of the true stories of people with lived experience of homelessness and hardship have been collected as part of this project: you can read them via the link below. We thank our clients for generously agreeing to contribute their stories. 

With Baines being known internationally for surreal installations featuring politicians, cows and clotheslines in unexpected places, Behind the Guise of Homelessness is expected to be a thought-provoking event that will be impossible for people to ignore. 

Read True Stories of Homelessness
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Lutheran Care

About the Artist

Andrew Baines is a Henley Beach-based surrealist artist known for his bold paintings featuring bolar-hatted figures, cows, sausage dogs and lighthouses.

He has also gained considerable international recognition for his surreal installations, which place politicians, orchestras, live cows or hundreds of suited volunteers in the sea and on beaches for photo shoots. Previous collaborators include former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, former federal politicians Alexander Downer and Amanda Vanstone, and former South Australian Premiers Lynn Arnold and Steven Marshall.

Andrew is a United Nations Art Advisor and his paintings hang as part of collections at ANZ Bank, Singapore; The Australian Embassy in Rome, Italy; Government House SA; and the United Nations Association of Australia. 

We sincerely thank Andrew for partnering with us on this important project and for his very generous offer to create a painting inspired by the living art installation which will be donated to Lutheran Care to auction in support of our crisis relief programs. 

This special Art event is endorsed by the United Nations of SA.

Image of Andrew Baines
Behind the Guise of Homelessness

Who's Involved?

Hover your cursor over each image tile (or tap on phones and tablets) to find out more about each person.

Heather Croall

Heather Croall is currently the Director and Chief Executive at Adelaide Fringe. She is known as a visionary in the creative sector, who delivers innovative festival programs, new audiences and organisational growth.   Every festival under Heather's leadership has seen an increase in turnover, been met with high critical acclaim, delivered growth in ticket sales and expanded audience demographic. Heather commenced her current role at the Adelaide Fringe in 2015, following a decade in the UK as the Festival Director at Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Andrew Kay

Andrew Kay is the CEO of Business SA, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has worked across financial services, FMCG and wine sectors, both locally and overseas. He believes South Australia is one of the best places in the world to do business.  Andrew has a Bachelor of Business degree, an MBA in International Business and in 2014 spent time at Harvard Business School. Andrew sits on the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium - where he is also Chair of the Foundation - as well as the Board of Centennial Park.

Heather Croall

Heather Croall is currently the Director and Chief Executive at Adelaide Fringe. She is known as a visionary in the creative sector, who delivers innovative festival programs, new audiences and organisational growth.  

Under her leadership, every festival Heather has run has seen an increase in turn over, been met with high critical acclaim, delivered growth in ticket sales and expanded audience demographic.

Heather commenced her current role at the Adelaide Fringe in 2015, following a decade in the UK as the Festival Director at Sheffield Doc/Fest.

Andrew Kay

Andrew Kay is the CEO of Business SA, the SA Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has worked across financial services, FMCG and wine sectors, both locally and overseas. He believes South Australia is one of the best places in the world to do business. 

Andrew has a Bachelor of Business degree, an MBA in International Business and in 2014 spent time at Harvard Business School.

Andrew sits on the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, where he is also Chair of the Foundation, as well as the Board of Centennial Park.

Bruce Djite

Bruce Djite is the Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia's SA Division. He is currently the Deputy Chair of the West Beach Trust and sits on the boards of the South Australian Multicultural Commission, and Children’s University Advocacy Board. Bruce is a South Australian Regional Committee Member of the Winston Churchill Trust. The former Socceroo is now a Football Analyst on Paramount+ and Network 10, as well as an Ambassador for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.   Prior to taking the Executive Director role at the Property Council, he was the CEO of the Committee for Adelaide and Adelaide United Football Club’s Director of Football.

Minister Nat Cook

Nat Cook MP is the South Australian Minister for Human Services and has been an elected Member of Parliament since 2014 (Member for Fisher 2014 – 2018, Member for Hurtle Vale 2018 – current). Nat is a lifetime local of Adelaide’s southern suburbs, a fierce advocate for her local constituents and a dedicated mum. Her passions lie in health and disability care, ending homelessness and making our families and communities fairer and safer places in which to live.  After losing their son Sam to a violent and unprovoked one-punch assault in 2008, Nat and husband Neil formed the Sammy D Foundation to educate youth about the consequences of violence.

Bruce Djite

Bruce Djite is the Executive Director of the SA Division of the Property Council of Australia. 

He is currently the Deputy Chair of the West Beach Trust and sits on the boards of the South Australian Multicultural Commission, Children’s University Advocacy Board and is a South Australian Regional Committee Member of the Winston Churchill Trust.

Bruce is a Football Analyst on Paramount+ and Network 10 and is also an Ambassador for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.  

Prior to taking the Executive Director role at the Property Council, he was the CEO of the Committee for Adelaide and Adelaide United Football Club’s Director of Football.

Minister Nat Cook

Nat Cook is the South Australian Minister for Human Services and has been an elected Member of Parliament since 2014 (Member for Fisher 2014 – 2018, Member for Hurtle Vale 2018 – current).

Nat is a lifetime local of Adelaide’s southern suburbs, a fierce advocate for her local constituents and a dedicated mum. Her passions lie in health and disability care, ending homelessness and making our families and communities fairer and safer places in which to live. 

After losing their son Sam to a violent and unprovoked one-punch assault in 2008, Nat and husband Neil formed the Sammy D Foundation to educate youth about the consequences of violence.

Uncle Mickey O’Brien

Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O'Brien is a descendant of the Kaurna (Adelaide Plains) and Narrunga (Yorke Peninsula) peoples.   He has been sharing cultural engagement for a number of years and it is a position he honours and respects greatly. The role was handed to him by his father, Uncle Lewis Yerla Burka O’Brien. Uncle Mickey has been a foster parent for 20 years, to four children and one grandchild. He has travelled across Australia, living and working in a number of Aboriginal communities, delivering programs and benefits. He enjoys supporting these communities, as well as sitting on boards and advisory panels.

Erin Phillips

South Australian born and bred, Erin Phillips is one of the state's greatest ambassadors. After playing basketball in the WNBA and representing Australia at the Olympics, Erin turned her attention to the newly formed AFLW. Quickly becoming one of the best players in the league, Erin was part of three premierships with the Adelaide Crows. She now plays at Port Adelaide, following in her father's footsteps to captain the club he once did. With wife Tracey and their three young children, Erin and her family enjoy travelling to all corners of the state and supporting local businesses and events. 

Uncle Mickey O’Brien

Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O’Brien is a descendant of the Kaurna (Adelaide Plains) and Narrunga (York Peninsula) peoples.  

He has been sharing cultural engagement for a number of years and it is a position he honours and respects greatly. The role was handed to him by his father, Uncle Lewis Yerla Burka O’Brien.

Uncle Mickey has been a foster parent for twenty years, to four children and one grandchild.

He has travelled across Australia, living and working in a number of Aboriginal communities, delivering programs and benefits. He enjoys supporting these communities, as well as sitting on boards and advisory panels.

Erin Phillips

South Australian born and bred, Erin Phillips is one of the state’s greatest ambassadors. After playing basketball in the WNBA and representing Australia at the Olympics, Erin turned her attention to the newly formed AFLW.

Quickly becoming one of the best players in the league, Erin was part of three premierships with the Adelaide Crows. She now plays at Port Adelaide, following in her father’s footsteps to captain the club he once did.

With wife Tracey and their three young children, Erin and her family enjoy travelling to all corners of the state and supporting local businesses and events. 

Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom

A former SANFL footballer, with a combined 125 games for Sturt, Glenelg and North Adelaide, Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom has become a well-known Adelaide media personality. Soda is currently a presenter on 7News, a commentator for Seven’s AFL and SANFL broadcasts, and has most recently joined the Bec and Soda Breakfast radio show on 107.1 SAFM. He is also host of the soda room podcast, telling the stories behind some of the biggest names in sport.

Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom

A former SANFL footballer, with a combined 125 games for Sturt, Glenelg and North Adelaide, Mark ‘Soda’ Soderstrom has become a well-known Adelaide media personality. 

Soda is currently a presenter on 7News, a commentator for Seven’s AFL and SANFL broadcasts, and has most recently joined the Bec and Soda Breakfast radio show on 107.1 SAFM. 

He is also host of the soda room podcast, telling the stories behind some of the biggest names in sport. 

Don’t forget to tag @lutherancareSANT in your photos and posts from the installation.

“Homelessness is solvable. We need a whole of community approach including government and corporate Australia, more focus on early intervention, and more affordable housing.” – Lutheran Care Chief Executive Officer, Rohan Feegrade
“I want to share with our community the true stories of people experiencing homelessness, via a surreal human installation that will open your mind to how close it could be to being on your doorstep. Don’t ever think it can’t happen to you.” - Andrew Baines
"I’m participating in the project to help raise awareness and to get more people talking about the issue and how to tackle it. Homelessness is a problem that affects our whole community. I feel it is important that we do all we can to understand the causes, effects and extent of homelessness and work together to bring an end to it in South Australia." - Heather Croall
"I was honoured to be asked to participate in this installation on behalf of the business community to draw attention to the plight of homeless people in SA. At Business SA we back the risk takers and the dreamers who try and make it on their own, but the reality is, not every business succeeds. The people facing homelessness today, could well have been a small business operator in your local community a year ago." - Andrew Kay
"I believe that in a country as wealthy as ours that everyone deserves a safe place to call home and if there is an opportunity to help raise awareness and/or funds to achieve that goal then we should all do whatever we can to work towards eradicating homelessness." - Bruce Djite
"Addressing homelessness requires more than giving people a roof. It’s also about getting the message out there that homelessness isn’t just the stereotyped picture of someone sleeping rough. It’s also about people not having a safe and secure place to stay – this is also what homelessness is. And it doesn’t discriminate. For many people homelessness can arrive due to a relationship breakdown, a health issue, job loss or even having working hours cut back.” - Minister Nat Cook
"As an Aboriginal person and community person, I have had the opportunity to work and volunteer for organisations and groups that support the homeless sector. I understand the importance and need for people who are experiencing accommodation needs. If my small contribution can help raise awareness and importantly much needed funds, then it’s all worth it." - Uncle Mickey O'Brien
"I have long been an admirer of Andrew’s creativity and ability to interpret situations in a unique and thought-provoking way. In this case, Andrew is challenging traditional stereotypes associated with homelessness. It’s an issue that needs discussion and greater support from all of us as a community." - Mark Soderstrom
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Crisis Relief and Early Intervention Programs

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"Demand for our Emergency Relief service has risen by 260 per cent in two years."

Your donation will help us support vulnerable families and individuals in South Australia and the Northern Territory. 

  • $25 - will help stock up Lutheran Care’s Emergency Relief pantry.
  • $60 - funds a vulnerable person’s one-hour appointment with a Counsellor.
  • $75 - can provide groceries to feed a family in crisis for a week.
  • $150 - can support the playgroups and crèche services at our Family Zone hub, so children can be engaged and supervised whilst their parents change their lives by accessing programs that can help prevent homelessness such as financial counselling, mental health support or a parenting education program.
  • $300 - can help us provide additional support to people experiencing complex issues such as homelessness, domestic or family violence, mental health concerns and more.
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