Western Wilderness

Public Art commissions in conjunction with Urban and Civic planning have an important and challenging role to play, negotiating the balance between the physical restrictions of the commissioning body, the Artists creative aspirations and its reception from the general public. Subject matter must be carefully considered in order to successfully create a connection with both the site and the general public who will be subjected to the artwork on a regular basis, without being too simplistic or overly didactic. This project had the advantage of a degree of community consultation prior to the commissioning of the artwork which then became valuable information in considering the theme for the work. Western Wilderness was commissioned by Regional Rail link for the redevelopment of Sunshine Railway station. The commission was issued through RMIT School of Art research, for the sum of $14,000. The graphic panels of Western Wilderness celebrates the wild botanical landscape of Sunshine featuring the diverse indigenous plant life of the area, incorporating both common and endangered species. Plants such as Brachyscome dentata, Acaena, Diuris fragrantissima, Chrysocephalum apiculatum, and Leptorhynchos squamatus have been transformed into giant graphic murals, allowing the spectator to walk between them where the change in scale from their usual size, transforms the images of plants from the everyday into the fantastic creating shadows and variation in light. Rail corridors and reserves, while seemingly neglected or abandoned, have become an important sanctuary for many species of native wildlife, and in this way Western Wilderness acknowledges the role of Sunshine Station in the ongoing preservation of many indigenous species as well as fore-fronting many plants species that would otherwise go unnoticed to the general public, either because they are too small, look like weeds or are now only found in areas that are inaccessible.