INSPIRATION IN THE GARDEN
20 Sep 2016
Inspiring the public with international art projects since 1969, the Kaldor Public Art Project is yet again changing the landscape of Sydney with an indigenous-inspired installation in the Royal Botanic Garden.
Self-tasked with creating groundbreaking projects in public spaces, Kaldor Public Art Projects will once again change the landscape of contemporary art in Australia with a new installation by artist Jonathon Jones. Since their first large-scale public art project in 1969, Kaldor Public Art Projects has become an organisation dedicated to “taking art outside museum walls and transforming public spaces with innovative contemporary projects” in an effort to change the way the public views and interacts with art outside of traditional viewing venues.
At this year’s event – the 32nd - Wiradjuri/Kamilaroi artist Jonathon Jones offers barrangal dyara (skin and bones). A vast sculptural installation, Jones’ creation will cover 20,000sqm of the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney.
“The Project will recall the 19th century Garden Palace building where it originally stood in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Garden, before it devastatingly burnt to the ground along with countless Aboriginal objects collected along the colonial frontier. The project is Jones’ response to the immense loss felt throughout Australia due to the destruction of these culturally significant items. It represents an effort to commence a healing process and a celebration of the survival of the world’s oldest living culture despite this traumatic event.
Thousands of bleached white shields will echo the masses of rubble - the only remnants of the building after the fire - raising the layered history and bones of the Garden Palace across the site. A native kangaroo grassland will form the heart of the installation which will be activated and enlivened by presentations of Indigenous language, performances, talks, special events and workshops each day.
The project connects directly with many Aboriginal communities throughout the south-east of Australia, collaborating to reframe our history. The artwork takes its name, barrangal dyara, meaning ‘skin and bones’ from the local Sydney Gadigal language, on whose country the project will take place, with approval from the community.” - Kaldor Public Art Project
barrangal dyara (skin and bones) can be viewed at the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney from 17 September – 3 October 2016.
To find out more about the creation of this amazing installation visit HERE
Images 1-3: aerial images of barrangal dyara; Images 4-5: barrangal dyara under construction.
