Art Pharmacy, in collaboration with Mirvac Retail and Perron Group, have put together a ‘Public Art’ initiative for Broadway Sydney. Eight artists are involved with the project, with their artworks permanently displayed at Broadway Shopping Centre, bringing the latest in contemporary art to the public.
Building on the success of their longterm local arts strategy at Broadway Sydney Shopping Centre, Art Pharmacy worked with Mirvac Retail in two stages to create eight column artworks across Level 1 and Level 2 of the retail space over 2016 & 2017.
The project was to support Mirvac retail’s longterm goal to support locally based art, sustainable urban design and community collaboration. The client wanted columns that evoked the neo-expressionist Basquiat art style. The colour palette was to be deep and bold – expressive and raw – in order to capture the energy of its surroundings. Art Pharmacy was to choose local artists in order to pay homage to Broadway Shopping Centre’s surrounding community who regularly use its facilities.
Art Pharmacy Consulting came forward with a number of concepts from a selection of talented artists, with the client choosing two groups of four. The artists created columns over five metres tall that spoke to their own artistic practice and philosophy: providing rationale and plaques for their artworks. Art Pharmacy consistently liaised with the artists – checking in and guiding their progress.
Implementation took place over a week, with the artists each taking a night to create their works. As they installed, they were documented by a videographer, explaining their process and their artistic inspirations. The finished result were beautiful, individualised sculptural artworks that spoke to the Mirvac Retail branding and supported Australian art.
