Did you know that several commissioned works, which will be installed in July for the staged opening of the Queen’s Wharf precinct, were made at Perides Art Foundry in Geebung?
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This local foundry is playing a pivotal role in shaping the artistic landscape of the city’s ambitious Queen’s Wharf development.
Perides Art Foundry, established in 1984 by renowned artist and sculptor Phillip Piperides, is crafting several major works that will soon grace the precinct’s public spaces.
Among the most striking pieces emerging from Perides’ workshop is Justene Williams’ colossal bronze sculpture, “Sheila.” Standing almost five metres tall, this larger-than-life superwoman will greet visitors at the Queen’s Wharf Plaza, adjacent to the historic Commissariat Store.
Williams, a Brisbane-based artist known for her body-centric works, drew inspiration from an unlikely source: her five-year-old daughter’s fascination with miniature figurines.
Another significant piece taking form at Perides is “Destiny,” a posthumous work by the late Wukun Wanambi. This five-metre-high aluminum sculpture, nearing completion, will perch atop a bull shark-shaped shelter at The Landing. Wanambi, who passed away in May 2022, left behind the design for this striking piece that bridges Indigenous artistry with contemporary urban spaces.
The foundry is also bringing to life Tony Albert’s “Inhabitant,” a 15-metre floating art garden showcasing iconic Australian flora. This innovative installation will blend sculpted representations of plants like the Desert Pea, Waratah, and Banksia with live native greenery, creating a dynamic entrance feature for Queen’s Wharf.
Just a short distance away in Northgate, another foundry is contributing to the precinct’s artistic vision. Urban Art Projects, housed in a 5000-square-metre former train fabrication facility, is the birthplace of Lindy Lee’s monumental “Being Swallowed by the Milky Way.”
This eight-metre, eight-tonne bronze sculpture promises to be a nocturnal spectacle, its perforated surface transforming into a shimmering galaxy of silver and gold stars after dark.
Lee, who has garnered international acclaim, considers this piece her “most significant commission” to date. The sculpture, set to adorn the George Street Atrium entrance, represents a homecoming for the artist and a sophisticated addition to Brisbane’s evolving skyline.
As Queen’s Wharf Brisbane prepares for its grand unveiling in August 2024, these local foundries are not just casting metal; they’re forging the cultural identity of a city on the rise. From Geebung to Northgate, Brisbane’s artisans are proving that world-class public art can have deeply local roots.
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The convergence of Indigenous perspectives, contemporary aesthetics, and Brisbane’s industrial heritage in these works speaks to a broader narrative of inclusion and innovation. As the city embraces its future, it does so with one foot firmly planted in the rich artistic traditions of its past and present.
Published 27-June-2024