Overview
Walking around Sydney CBD over the last year or so, you might have noticed the amount of construction taking place, but even more so, the vibrant colours and art brightening up these building sites across town. These are works from the creative hoardings initiative, which saw ten artists chosen by the City of Sydney to have their designs adorn drab construction sites.
Following a massively successful first round, the City of Sydney is once again inviting artists nationwide to submit their creations to be a part of the next group of hoarding designers. Encouraging both established and emerging artists to apply, another ten creatives will be selected by a panel of industry experts, and receive a tidy $11,400 for their hard work to boot.
Whether you want to submit your own work or encourage a friend, don't delay as entries close 5pm, Friday, December 14. To give you a better idea of what the creative hoardings initiative is all about, we took a look at the original ten artists and found out how the project impacted their creative practices.
Katherine Griffiths.
THE TERMINAL FACE OF THE PERITO MORENO GLACIER BY TIM HARLAND
For landscape photographer Tim Harland, the creative hoardings project was the perfect medium to express his elongated panoramic images. Having considered submitting many of his works, he eventually decided on his image of the famous Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia. Created from more than 50 individual photographs, Harland captured the image while travelling in a boat parallel to the glacier.
On the project, Harland explains: "it's been lovely to be walking through the city, turn a corner and be presented with my giant, icy blue photograph…I've never been able to print my work as big as I'd like, so to see it two metres high and 100 metres long was deeply satisfying."
Katje Ford.
BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA BY EGGPICNIC
Promoting important dialogue around wildlife conservation, Camila De Gregorio and Christopher Macaluso of popular creative duo Eggpicnic have used their hoarding design, Birds of Australia, to reach out to others with their message. With their design popping up on construction sites across Pyrmont, Surry Hills and The Rocks, their work has proved popular even with bird watching groups that go on tours of the hoardings. Plus, Camila and Christopher are often told by strangers how admired their design is.
"I was on the bus at Town Hall, and I see this email that our hoarding is up at Ken Street," De Gregorio says. "I told the bus driver to stop, I got off and then two blocks away, I could see this giant cockatoo. I started running; I get there and I completely lose my breath. I felt like I'd won an Oscar. I was standing alone in complete awe for ages, watching how others were taking selfies and videos of my bird."
"People care; it's just a matter of inviting them to participate. We are privileged to have our work displayed throughout Sydney and we hope that this platform starts fundamental conversations," says De Gregorio.
Katje Ford.
DOUBLE-TAKE BY RACHEL HARRIS
Creating playful images that challenge our perceptions, South Australian designer Rachel Harris worked alongside the City of Sydney's archives, taking historical photographs and photoshopping them in subtle and fun ways. For Harris, creating something that could be viewed multiple times was one of her primary concerns. And Double-Take achieves that by giving commuters something interesting to focus on during their journey to and from work.
"The feedback has been great, seeing people engaging with the work and sharing it with each other is wonderful," says Harris. "It feels like I have contributed something meaningful and positive to the community."
A SONG FROM NATURE BY DANLING XIAO
Having built up a huge Instagram following thanks to her playful daily food-art creations with her Mundane Matters project, Danling Xiao once again used these cute artworks to communicate her philosophy on zero waste and sustainability. Xiao said it's "an honour" to be able to contribute her artwork to the city's landscape with A Song From Nature.
"I am surprised that although friends see my work on Instagram on a regular basis, they are still surprised when they see them on the streets," says Xiao. "I think we must be doing something right here."
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AT NIGHT BY EMILY CROCKFORD
Emerging artist Emily Crockford took inspiration from perhaps Sydney's most iconic landmark with her interpretation of the Sydney Opera House. Depicting the sweeping structure's celebrated sails lit up by the New Years Eve fireworks, this work follows Crockford's colourful style, which you can also see in her paintings, sculpture and plush works of art.
Supported by Studio A, a local social enterprise providing support for artists living with intellectual disabilities, Crockford has exhibited her work as part of the Cicada Press at UNSW Art & Design, Underbelly Arts Festival and numerous galleries across Sydney.
CHILDREN VERY UPSET BY EDWIN BUDHI
Spending time wandering the streets of Sydney, photographer and filmmaker Edwin Budhi was struck by the number of lost animals signs he came across tapped to signposts. With his bright, eye-catching portraits of missing animals and street scenes, Budhi wanted to convey the feeling of what it's like to live in a large metropolis such as Sydney. Through Children Very Upset, Budhi thoughtfully explores the nature of family, hope and loss within the context of the urban environment.
Katje Ford.
STONE JEWELS BY FIONA CURREY-BILLYARD
Featuring glowing stone cutting tools used by Indigenous populations throughout past centuries, emerging filmmaker, photographer and painter Fiona Currey-Billyard makes the most of new media in her hoarding design, Stone Jewels.
Astounded by the quality of these tools that were handcrafted hundreds of years ago, Currey-Billyard was inspired to showcase their excellence to a wider audience through her submission. Made from materials such as glass, basalt and greenstone, the vibrant stone cutting tools resemble precious jewellery, which Currey-Billyard conveys through her vibrant artwork.
Katje Ford.
REAL MYTH BY CAPTAIN PIPE
Perhaps the most lively of all the hoarding designs selected for the initial creative hoardings project, Neil McCann, aka Captain Pipe, wanted to create something that passers-by simply wouldn't be able to ignore. Inspired by the eccentric works of 15th-century Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, Real Myth illustrates a scene that could be the party to end all parties.
In addition, McCann's design considers the stories we tell ourselves and how artworks can have "co-created" meanings depending on your life's perspective. Putting his work on a scale that's made it virtually unmissable by anyone who comes near, McCann was proud to have such a towering and colourful work take over the city streets.
POLY UBIQUITOUS BY CYNTHIA SCHWERTSIK
Disturbed by the amount of plastic pollution taking over the environment today, Adelaide-based artist Cynthia Schwertsik decided to reimagine plastic bags with a slightly more positive connotation. It's easy to miss at first, but Poly Ubiquitous doesn't just display a bright and mysterious creation, but images of colourful plastic bags submerged underwater.
On her artwork, Schwertsik explains, "I started to collect plastic bags and treat them as if they were precious. These bright, artificial colours were the entrance to an ambiguous appreciation for the material that is supposed to be useful."
Katje Ford.
OBSTACLE COURSE BY ELLIOTT BRYCE FOULKES
Sydney native, art director and designer Elliot Bryce Foulkes has long been basing his bold creations around the use of typography, language, graphics and space. For his chosen Site Works hoarding, titled Obstacle Course, Foulkes delved into his knowledge of Sydney to develop an imaginative reinterpretation of ongoing building projects and future Sydney architectural landmarks.
Exploring the concepts of design, art direction and identity through his creative practice, here, Obstacle Course depicts an artistic look at individuals searching the streets of Sydney and uncovering the many interesting shapes and designs that make up the urban environment.
Keen to see your own art on a large scale? Answer the City of Sydney's call for artists to get a chance to be part of the initiative.