merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

'Remnants' was commissioned in 1998. It was designed as a nature play space for children. The work comprises three brick sculptural elements set amongst 3000 Common Tussock grasses. merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

At the end of a short side path, the concrete rolls up into a large cylinder, like a giant classical scroll that is stopped by a boulder. This wonderful sculpture is an eloquent comment on the power of nature over the built environment. Located within a parkland environment that borders Merri Creek, it reminds us of what lies beneath the city and the persistence of the earth, and the strength of its stories. It was developed as part of the Public Art Program 1997.merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

Spaced at regular intervals along Sparta Place, New Order consists of five freestanding columns fixed to low concrete plinths. Each column, modelled on the classic Greek Ionic form, is delineated by a cage fabricated from galvanised steel uprights and mesh. The cages are filled with recycled ‘kitchenalia’ – toasters, kettles, saucepans, mixing bowls, teapots, etc – made in various metals including stainless steel, chrome and aluminium. Over time, weathering will affect the surfaces of New Order and it will acquire a patina that subtly enhances its character. New Order was premised on the sister city relationship between Brunswick in Australia and Sparta in Greece. The artwork makes a direct reference to the ruined remains of ancient Greek architecture. In Sparta Place however, the universally recognised Ionic column is constructed from 20th century materials. There is an intriguing interplay between past and present – from a distance the line of columns suggests the grand architectural scale of the past, but at close quarters the columns are found to contain modestly scaled contemporary household objects. New Order suggests that great societies evolve from domestic hearths.merri-bek public art collection

This artwork reflects Merri-bek’s distinct geography and celebrates the relationship local inhabitants have with this place. The undulating diagonal folds of these 11 suspended mesh forms reference the geography of The Melbourne Warp, a gentle flexure in the land that over time has marked a line between northwest-southeast, with Moreland located to the North. The slow and constant shifts that have formed this flexure can be seen in the repetitive and ephemeral surface patterns of the artwork which are seemingly solid yet perpetually change in appearance as the forms rotate in space. The continuous movement created between the surface and structure of the artwork create a sense not only of connection to this land, but of dynamism and innovation relevant to the unique cultural identity of Moreland today. Viewers are invited to move around the building, experiencing the myriad perspectives from which the artwork flickers and transforms, considering the evolving relationship between architecture, place and its inhabitants. 11 forms in total, instal dimensions variablemerri-bek public art collection

'Where We Have Come To', 2019 represents the multiculturalism that is at the heart of Merri-bek. Created from bronze, this sculpture represents a counter-twisted rope, where the diversity of strands is what gives the rope its strength. As a metaphor for multiculturalism, this sculpture shows how communities are stronger through diversity. The sculpture is located in Saxon Lane. The sculpture is also an instrument that can be struck to generate a kind of community ripple of sound that “binds all within its sonic perimeter”. This artwork unites all members of the community together in respectful acknowledgment that we do so on Wurundjeri Country in the spirit of wandha-djerri-nganyin-atj (bringing us together).merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

Located at the Glenroy Community Hub, Isadora Vaughan’s rammed earth and bluestone sculpture draws attention to the continual transformation of Glenroy’s geology and its communities. The City of Merri-bek and Glenroy lie on the Western Basalt plains of Victoria, with soil and bluestone derived from ancient volcanic lava flows. Vaughan’s sculpture is created from these locally found sediments with the range of colours and textures reflecting the changing use of the land as various soils, rocks and sand were introduced from the coastal areas of Victoria. These forms reflect Glenroy’s changing communities, emphasising our relationship with the earth, and have been shaped to enable connection through offering places to sit, lean, play and to gather. Terra Pneumatics embodies the history and sediment of Glenroy —both human and geological — and invites the community to become part of this process of layering and transformation.merri-bek public art collection

This mural by Indigenous artist Kent Morris (Barkindji people) references First Nations knowledge systems and Brunswick’s local history. The geometric design is inspired by Indigenous design elements from the south east of Australia and mathematical and Chinese rope knot diagrams. Rope factories were once housed in nearby Tinning Street and the site also has a history as a Chinese Market Garden. The colour palette reflects the park’s name Garrong, the Woi Wurrung word for Wattle. The magpie signifies how First Nations creation stories, including those of the Kulin Nation, tell of magpies industriously and ingeniously working together for the betterment of all mankind then singing the dawn to mark their achievement. Overall, the design emphasises the benefits of cross cultural knowledge and collaboration with the interconnecting patterns reaffirming connection to community, culture and family, highlighting the ties that bind us together. merri-bek public art collection

'Balam Balam', by Aunty Kim Wandin and Christine Joy’s (Murrup Biik) is located at Balam Balam Place. This artwork responds to the name of the site and represents the earth and the extraordinary migratory journeys that butterflies make around our planet, referencing their resilience and strength. It recognises that butterflies as pollinators are an important food source for birds and other vertebrates, and are a part of a living, interconnected planetary system. They are indicator species for healthy environments. Grounded in a deep relationship with Country and a commitment to creating culturally rich artwork, Murrup Biik's 'Balam Balam' honours Aboriginal knowledge, ceremony, and community connection.merri-bek public art collection

'Freedom Flock' commemorates prisoners of conscience who were imprisoned for anti-conscription, anti-war, or peace activism at Pentridge Prison and other prisons across Victoria. Australia has a long history of jailing peace activists who protest against war and conscription, and this artwork pays homage to these people who have sacrificed their freedom for peace. This artwork commemorates prisoners of conscience who were imprisoned for anti-conscription, anti-war, or peace activism at Pentridge Prison and other prisons across Victoria.merri-bek public art collection

'Temple' was commissioned in 1998. It is located along the Moonee Ponds Creek walking and bike path very close to the Moonee Ponds Creek. Four brick sculptural elements sit within a boundary circle of Drooping She-oak trees. A swathe of Kangaroo Grasses form a smaller inner circle edged by bluestone pitchers. Cyclists and pedestrians may be enticed to pause for a moment to appreciate the surrounding landscape and listen to the gentle acoustics of wind blowing through the Drooping She-oak trees. merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

This artwork by Indigenous artist Kent Morris (Barkindji people) features a delicate pattern of native plants and watchful fairy wrens, while interconnecting fence wires reference First Nations geometric designs of Australia’s South East. Carefully constructed from a single photograph, the repeating pattern provides a First Nations’ perspective that depicts plants, animals, humans, land, sea and sky as interconnected and interdependent. Indigenous stories about the superb fairy-wren highlight the importance of individuality, but caution against competitive behaviour to prove individual worth. Systems of Sustainability #2 evokes a journey towards the incorporation of Indigenous knowledge and philosophies in ecosystem management and other areas of life in Australia to provide the possibility of a sustainable future for all. merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

merri-bek public art collection

Located outside Mechanics Institute, Brunswick. Materials include stone carving with bronze additions. The Free Speech memorial was built to commemorate the free speech fights by workers and the unemployed in the area in the 1930s and in particular, a young artist, Noel Counihan, who defied the police by speaking from a locked cage on a cart chained to a balustrade.merri-bek public art collection

Dwelling examines the house as a symbol of who we are: status, style and function. By closing off and stripping back all adornment, Dwelling questions the traditional understanding of what the house represents, and its value.merri-bek public art collection

In creating these pieces, Vipoo Srivilasa initiated the process by sculpting three figures with bare surfaces. Bundit Puangthong then added his artistic touch by painting each sculpture. The artists' conceptual visions harmonized perfectly, especially considering their shared commitment to Buddhist principles, which frequently inspire their respective artistic practices. After Bundit completed his painting, Vipoo enlivened the pieces by adding eyes to the figures. He also embellished the works with pom-poms, lending them a softness that makes them appear both approachable and innocent, despite the weightiness of their themes. Each sculpture embodies a specific teaching from Buddhism: "FLESH" features a golden umbrella, serving as a metaphor for sex.

These captivating pieces are part of a series called "FOOD / FLESH / FAME," a collaborative effort between Melbourne-based Thai artists Bundit Puangthong and Vipoo Srivilasa. Drawing from Buddhist teachings, the series explores the three elements of attachment: Food (consumption), Flesh (sex), and Fame (power). Although these elements are known to cause suffering, they remain persistently alluring, a paradox that the artists intend to explore further in the future. In creating these pieces, Vipoo Srivilasa initiated the process by sculpting three figures with bare surfaces. Bundit Puangthong then added his artistic touch by painting each sculpture. The artists' conceptual visions harmonized perfectly, especially considering their shared commitment to Buddhist principles, which frequently inspire their respective artistic practices. After Bundit completed his painting, Vipoo enlivened the pieces by adding eyes to the figures. He also embellished the works with pom-poms, lending them a softness that makes them appear both approachable and innocent, despite the weightiness of their themes. Each sculpture embodies a specific teaching from Buddhism: "FOOD" depicts a durian, the king of fruits, painted by Bundit Puangthong. He notes, "Despite its pungent aroma, many people still love to eat it."Donated the by the artists