It’s been exactly two years to the day since a group of high-profile South Australians went head to toe in gold in Rundle Mall for Lutheran Care and internationally renowned artist Andrew Baines.
Behind the Guise of Homelessness was a living art installation hatched by Baines which brought together local stars of sport, media, government, the arts and community, to raise awareness and break down stereotypes around homelessness.
Usually known for his surreal paintings featuring cows, sausage dogs and bolar-hatted business men and live installations which have featured former Prime Ministers, Baines also has a strong sense of social justice and came to Lutheran Care to turn his idea into a reality.
The event featured sporting icon Erin Phillips, media personality Mark Soderstrom, Fringe CEO Heather Croall, government minister the Hon. Nat Cook, Property Council of SA Executive Director and ex-Socceroo Bruce Djite, senior Kaurna person Uncle Mickey O’Brien and South Australian Business Chamber CEO Andrew Kay.
Each volunteered their time for this head-turning event, which sought to represent some of the many stories of people experiencing homelessness and hardship who knock on Lutheran Care’s doors for help every day.
Behind the Guise of Homelessness aimed to challenge stereotypes, reminding the audience that it does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of class, gender, age, race, or education level.
The event caught the attention of hundreds of Rundle Mall shoppers and traders, as well as achieved national media attention.
Speaking to Andrew Baines today, two years on from this poignant event, he vividly recalls the gloomy, humid weather which cast a somber mood over the day, and the passion and patience of the participants who for an hour became golden statues.
“I even saw people crying – when it moves them you’ve done something pretty special,” he says.
Since this event, sadly, the situation for South Australians has become even more pressurised. Between January 2023 and January 2025, South Australia has experienced a notable decline in housing affordability and an increase in the cost of living. More and more Lutheran Care clients are experiencing housing insecurity or homelessness, and more than 50 per cent of people coming to Lutheran Care for help have never had to ask for help before.
The shocking footage released in the past week of a female rough sleeping in Adelaide having a glass bottle hurled at her by a man being filmed by his friends shows a disturbing lack of empathy by the individuals involved, pointing to a need for more education regarding the prominence of homelessness, the experience of homelessness, and the many ways people can find themselves in this position.
“You don’t know what people are going through. Everybody’s suffering in a different way.”
Even Andrew Baines knows personally how people’s luck can change in an instant.
“In the Global Financial Crisis I went broke,” he shares, his voice full of emotion.
“In 2008, I went from doing amazing – making hundreds of thousands of dollars to nothing. I was in debt.
“If it wasn’t for the people who helped me, I would have lost hope.”
Fortunately, Andrew was able to rebuild, and is now one of the most in demand artists, with artworks hanging in art galleries, government buildings and private collections around the world, and admired by international artists such as Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens).
“I’ve had a tough life but things have also happened to me that are so amazing and incredible.
“When I saw what Lutheran Care was doing – I thought, this is the way I’m going to help.”
Behind the Guise of Homelessness was one of the first events that Lutheran Care and Andrew Baines collaborated on, setting the scene for a strong partnership which has achieved huge impact for clients and the community in terms of dollars and awareness raised.
Andrew Baines has donated numerous works to Lutheran Care to auction to support fundraising efforts, and even completed a painting live at the charity’s 2023 Gala Dinner which went under the hammer that night to raise funds for Emergency Relief.
The artist and Lutheran Care again partnered for the Sausage Stroll: Dachshunds’ Day Out for Charity, which saw around 100 dachshunds and their black-suited owners convene at Henley Beach for a beach walk.
“We are deeply grateful for Andrew’s longstanding support and his belief in the work we do as we continue to change lives and create a positive impact across communities,” says Lutheran Care Chief Executive Officer, Rohan Feegrade.
“His commitment to using his art and donating pieces to drive social change is truly inspiring. His generosity, creativity, and dedication to social good inspire us all, and we are proud to walk this innovative journey with him.”
Andrew is excited to again be part of Lutheran Care’s Gala Dinner in May; “I can’t wait, I love it,” the artist says.
There are more collaborations in the pipeline, and Lutheran Care is humbled to hear Andrew has decided to step away from his many other charity commitments to concentrate on working with Lutheran Care as his sole charity of choice.
“I still want to help my community and Lutheran Care is the only charity that I can really relate to,” Andrew says.
“Andrew’s decision to partner exclusively with Lutheran Care and make us his charity of choice is a tremendous honour and a testament to the values we share,” Mr Feegrade says.
“Collaborating with Andrew reflects how Lutheran Care chooses to do things differently—breaking the mould of traditional social justice projects by embracing partnerships that are bold, creative, and outside the norm, while delivering meaningful outcomes for our clients.
“We’re incredibly fortunate to partner with an artist whose creativity and passion push us to explore new ways of connecting with and supporting our communities.
“Partnerships like this remind us of the power of creativity, courage and innovation.”
To book a ticket or table at the upcoming Gala Dinner to see Andrew Baines paint live, click here.
To make a tax deductible donation to Lutheran Care and help South Australians in crisis, click here.