OUTDOOR SCULPTURE CHILD'S PLAY
15 Aug 2012
Lump Sculpture Studio makes outdoor sculpture look like child’s play.
Australian leaders in contemporary architectural art, Lump Sculpture Studio is widely acclaimed for crafting pieces which are as enriching for the individuals who experience them, as well as the environments they occupy.
Truly epitomising this is the Lump team’s latest project, a collaboration with Westfield at Melbourne’s Westfield Fountaingate Shopping Centre.
Commissioned to create an extraordinary play area for children, Lump worked with the Westfield design team, developing a bold plan.
“The concept was for a striking, fun and fascinating space composed of sculptures, which obviously also needed to meet rigorous safety regulations” said Timothea Jewell, Co-Director of Lump Studios.
As well as providing unbridled joy for families, the sculptures furthermore needed to engage and delight visitors of all ages.
The Lump team responded by looking to the outside world, and embracing one of their signature natural motifs - leaves.
Literally scattered around the centre, as well as grouped in a collective forest in the outdoor play space are 50 beautiful mobile Lump Leaf Skeleton sculptures. Inside, these hint at the magic to be experienced beyond the doors to the courtyard.
It is in the courtyard that the startling interactive sculpture, The Leaf Skeleton Dome, sits centre-stage. Essentially a magnificent climbing frame, the 2.5 metre high lime green steel dome is seemingly fashioned from folding steel leaves.
“The dome exists purely to be scrambled over, under and provide a safe and imaginative meeting place for children” said Timothea.
Lump Sculpture Studio is headed up by Chria Vassallo and Timothea Jewell, who instil their vision in every piece produced. Supported by a distinguished team of artists, the group creates sublime, remarkable art which delights an incredibly wide audience.
The Fountaingate Play Sculpture project marks the first time that Lump has worked with Westfield.
“Westfield is a trail-blazing organisation in their approach to design, and working with their team at Fountaingate on such an engaging assignment was exhilarating” said Timothea.
