Artists statement

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.