New public artworks
New public artworks reflecting the indigenous and European history of the Port Phillip region will be a wonderful feature along the Alma Road street frontage of Europa on Alma.
Artist Simon Normand has been commissioned to create the pieces – four freestanding two-metre-high sculptures incorporating cast Venetian glass mosaic panels on steel plinths, stamped with the St Kilda postmark. The sculptures will reference iconic images from pre-decimal early 20th Century postage stamps and the indigenous totems of the local Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples. Atop each plinth will sit bronze casts of
- Bulln-Bulln the Lyrebird
- Mirrm the Eastern Grey Kangaroo
- Barraimal the Emu
- Cocopara the Kookaburra
Mr Normand said the sculptures were intended to reflect both the rich indigenous history of the St Kilda Port Phillip region and the colonial history of Melbourne. “Australia’s kangaroo stamp was released in 1913, the same year that the Lady Janet Clarke memorial in Kings Domain, just off St Kilda Rd, was completed. In this way Lady Janet Clarke’s contribution to the rise of Melbourne is acknowledged and linked to the four exterior bronze, steel and mosaic sculptures designed for Europa on Alma.”
Bolton Clarke selected Mr Normand as the winning artist after a competitive selection process, the sculptures are sure to become iconic landmarks in the St Kilda landscape.