PUBLIC 2015 Recap
PUBLIC 2015, a project by the independent, non-profit cultural organisation FORM, gathered local and international artists in Western Australia regions, from April 10th to 19th, for extraordinary artistic interventions in the public space. They also had a two day Symposium, exclusive workshops, exhibitions and more.
The core idea that forms the foundation of the festival is creativity: “We see creativity as a catalyst for positive change, and we believe that the best, most vibrant places to live are the ones that nurture dynamic creativity, showcase cultural diversity, insist on quality, and are shaped with people in mind.”
What is interesting and truly inspiring is not only their focus on social and multicultural engagement, as well as cultural infrastructure development, involving the community through art and dialogue, but that they also have the objective of aboriginal cultural maintenance, and, as you will notice in the highlights from this year’s festival, many artists had references to the aboriginal culture, with emphasis on the contrast between past and present. We believe that initiatives like PUBLIC connect people, enable cultural exchange and debate, and increase awareness regarding social issues that may find a solution through dialogue.
Images © Phlegm
Image via FORM
Waone (Interesni Kazki) – ‘Rainbow Serpent’
“Rainbow Serpent is Australian Aboriginal mythological figure, a common deity, often a creator god, in the mythology and a common motif in the art of Aboriginal Australia.” (read more)
Images © Waone
AEC (Interesni Kazki) – ‘Memory of the Land’
In this mural, AEC highlights the contrast between the past and modern times, between the precolonial and colonial Australian history. He uses the Banksia flower-human as symbol of the native aboriginal man, and the rock-head to symbolize eternity, memory and spirituality, while the flower-skulls refer to the native aboriginals souls, the victims of colonization. The kangaroo-humans represent the modern inhabitants, interested in business, fashion, led by consumerism. (read more)
The initial sketch of the mural, entitled ‘The Memory of ancestors of the Third Planet’:
Images © AEC
Pastel – ‘Idealism of aboriginal Ngarluma’ (read our recent interview with the artist)
According to the artist, the piece reveals the brutal relationship between native communities and the colonialism until 1971 when they started to be recognized with civil rights.
Images © Pastel
First image by Luke Shirlaw / Second image by Ryan Musiello
Fintan Magee – ‘Road to Nowhere’
Image © Fintan Magee
Images © Moneyless
Images © DALeast
Elian – ‘Repeating Shapes’
“This work belongs to the series of paintings inspired by the shapes of the walls. In this case, the architecture has been highlighted through the shade, seeks to reinterpret the importance of the orientations.”
Image © Elian
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View photos from PUBLIC 2014.
Find out more about PUBLIC 2015 on their website and follow FORM on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.