Maylands: Artist Eva Fernandez starts tea party as part of Art on Eighth initiative

MAYLANDS artist Eva Fernandez has captured a tea party on giant planter boxes along the Eighth Avenue cafe strip.

Fernandez used several composed photos of tea cups and pots to decorate the boxes filled with native plants, trees and greenery.

Her artwork, called After the Tea Party, is part of the City of Bayswater’s Art on the Eighth initiative, where works from local artists will be displayed on the boxes.

It explores the complex history and cultural legacy of colonialism.

The boxes, which were installed on October 22, followed improvements to the median strip, road resurfacing, street furniture and upgraded street bins.

Fernandez, who specialises in photomedia, said it was “wonderful” to see her artwork in her suburb.

“The City of Bayswater selected these images because they have reference to Western Australia but also because this is the cafe strip,” she said.

“It references the tea party and the tea cups.

“It is the first time that I have done planter boxes but it is not the first time that I have done public artworks.”

Fernandez hoped to do more public artworks if the opportunity presents in the City.

She is also running an exhibition called a rare bird in the lands at Turner Galleries in Perth until November 17.

Mayor Dan Bull encouraged artists with a connection to Maylands and who were interested in exhibiting works to contact the City’s place manager.

“Street trees will be grown in the new planter boxes as a trial for areas limited by space or underground services,” he said.

“We know that trees have traffic calming effects as well as improving walkability along streets, which is ideal for Eighth Avenue.”

For information, email place.management@bayswater.wa.gov.au