In order to avoid being at home, after Elder’s appointment we took a tram to Docklands and wandered around. It’s a brisk day for it but we had fun at the Docklands park (the one on Harbour Esplanade with the trees on top of the grassy knoll and the wind spinny thing).
In all, I’m pretty impressed with the public art and green spaces in this city. It leads me to ask this question of the DT: what is your favourite piece of public art in Melbourne?
Without a doubt, this piece at the end of Drewery Ln. Definitely check it out some time after the sun sets (though I think the lights switch off a 10 or 11).
As far as classics go, Deborah Halpern’s The Angel, my profile pic. I’m also fond of all the Mirka Mora stuff around town but I’m biased because I knew her a little.
I love billy connelly’s reaction to the angel. He made a point of visiting it every time he was in Melbourne. “I have no idea what the fuck this thing is. It’s brilliant!”
As soon as I posed the question I thought of you actually 😆 I’m glad we have a bit of Mirka’s stuff around, her work was so iconic and her painted W class tram (remember those?) was one of my favourites.
Miniest saw a W class tram doing the city circle route today and asked, “What the hell is that thing‽” I was a little shocked tbh; I love them the same way I love old trains, ships and firetrucks.
In Melbourne: The Cow in the tree in Docklands always brightened my day. I don’t know that it’s high art exactly, but it brings joy and that’s more than good enough for me.
Hey I love that triangle thing! I like how the base doesn’t stand out so at first glance it looks like some weirdly hovering portal. The cow is pretty funny, I too like art that makes me smile.
I think my parents used to call it Kennet’s Erection.
Edit: Just had a fun memory of being at a party at an apartment that overlooked this and the red poles as well and one (high as a kite) girl was telling another (even higher) girl about how the red poles were intercepting sound waves and protecting our brains.
Controversial and iconic. I’ve only ever seen them from passing trains during the day but at night it’s a much more atmospheric piece. There must be something about the engineering and design of it I don’t understand, because I vaguely worry it’ll fall one day.
I always thought of Vault like it was The Happy Prince, all that is left of him is his heart and courage and strength, everything else has been stripped away
Huh. That’s a really interesting parallel. I recall homeless people wanting to sleep under it for shelter and getting kicked out all the time before it was moved from the city square. I like where it is now next to the big red Burnley tunnel ventilation tower thing at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. They make a really bold statement together.
Growing up I remember the large train mural at Spencer Street , the reflecting pools and water wall at the NGV ( , Joan of Arc at the Museum and the Seahorse at the Port Philip Arcade.
Now I think I like many of the modernist bas reliefs scattered around the city better
I had to google ‘modernist bas reliefs Melbourne’ to understand what you mean, and I didn’t realise how many we actually have. I’ve noticed but not really given much attention to them; they were just sort of part of the artistic background of the city for me, always there. Thanks for drawing some attention to them again!
One thing we do beautifully in this city is water features. The NGV ones you mentioned I had the pleasure of introducing my kids to a few years back, it’s like a rite of passage.
In order to avoid being at home, after Elder’s appointment we took a tram to Docklands and wandered around. It’s a brisk day for it but we had fun at the Docklands park (the one on Harbour Esplanade with the trees on top of the grassy knoll and the wind spinny thing).
In all, I’m pretty impressed with the public art and green spaces in this city. It leads me to ask this question of the DT: what is your favourite piece of public art in Melbourne?
I’m a fan of the Eastlink hotel. It is not pretty…It looks lonely out there and it doesn’t look quite right.
It’s courageous
and that pleases me…
How that got approved is astonishing.
There’s some great art on the eastlink. I like bird with a chip and those revolving trees, and the ram’s skull
My mum would always say she’s going to drop me off there everytime we drove past it.
That is a weird piece and I like how it lights up at night.
Without a doubt, this piece at the end of Drewery Ln. Definitely check it out some time after the sun sets (though I think the lights switch off a 10 or 11).
Wow I haven’t seen that one, that’s really beautiful!
As far as classics go, Deborah Halpern’s The Angel, my profile pic. I’m also fond of all the Mirka Mora stuff around town but I’m biased because I knew her a little.
It’s a shame it’s not in the NGV moat anymore
I love billy connelly’s reaction to the angel. He made a point of visiting it every time he was in Melbourne. “I have no idea what the fuck this thing is. It’s brilliant!”
As soon as I posed the question I thought of you actually 😆 I’m glad we have a bit of Mirka’s stuff around, her work was so iconic and her painted W class tram (remember those?) was one of my favourites.
Miniest saw a W class tram doing the city circle route today and asked, “What the hell is that thing‽” I was a little shocked tbh; I love them the same way I love old trains, ships and firetrucks.
In Melbourne: The Cow in the tree in Docklands always brightened my day. I don’t know that it’s high art exactly, but it brings joy and that’s more than good enough for me.
In Perth: I’ve always loved this triangle thing:
Hey I love that triangle thing! I like how the base doesn’t stand out so at first glance it looks like some weirdly hovering portal. The cow is pretty funny, I too like art that makes me smile.
there’s a special name to describe that kind of sculpture ( a frame outdoors ) but I can’t remember it.
There are so many great works, but the digital bin chickens outside NGV always make me smile.
I love those birds, I find them oddly mesmerising.
Like you said this morning. The cheese sticks.
I think my parents used to call it Kennet’s Erection.
Edit: Just had a fun memory of being at a party at an apartment that overlooked this and the red poles as well and one (high as a kite) girl was telling another (even higher) girl about how the red poles were intercepting sound waves and protecting our brains.
Nope Nope Nope Nope Nope
Controversial and iconic. I’ve only ever seen them from passing trains during the day but at night it’s a much more atmospheric piece. There must be something about the engineering and design of it I don’t understand, because I vaguely worry it’ll fall one day.
I always thought of Vault like it was The Happy Prince, all that is left of him is his heart and courage and strength, everything else has been stripped away
Huh. That’s a really interesting parallel. I recall homeless people wanting to sleep under it for shelter and getting kicked out all the time before it was moved from the city square. I like where it is now next to the big red Burnley tunnel ventilation tower thing at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. They make a really bold statement together.
but the one I really really loved growing up and still love is Icarus at Tullamarine Airport
Ah, not being much of a traveller I had to look this one up too, and… wow! The balance and posing of it is pretty special.
Growing up I remember the large train mural at Spencer Street , the reflecting pools and water wall at the NGV ( , Joan of Arc at the Museum and the Seahorse at the Port Philip Arcade.
Now I think I like many of the modernist bas reliefs scattered around the city better
I had to google ‘modernist bas reliefs Melbourne’ to understand what you mean, and I didn’t realise how many we actually have. I’ve noticed but not really given much attention to them; they were just sort of part of the artistic background of the city for me, always there. Thanks for drawing some attention to them again!
One thing we do beautifully in this city is water features. The NGV ones you mentioned I had the pleasure of introducing my kids to a few years back, it’s like a rite of passage.