AFTER 100 years of separation, Northbridge and the city will finally reconnect at the end of the month.
Part of the State Government’s Perth City Link project, Connect Kings Square (facilitated by Artsource) marks the launch of $1.8 million of public art pieces and the connection of Lake and King Streets on April 30.
Also part of the launch, Stirling resident April Pine has created Convergence, a temporary art installation in the form of life-size, yellow figures on the streetscape.
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READ NOW“They were designed to create sense of curiosity from the street inwards towards the precinct,” Pine said.
“The brief called for an idea of connection, so it’s about creating a sense of movement between the city and Northbridge and a convergence between the two offset grids that are for the first time connected through the new Kings Square precinct.”
All 50 figures, which range from 170-180cm tall, are made from corflute (a material used to make signs) and will populate Telethon Avenue from April 20 to May 16.
“They all have different characters and there’s a relatability about that.
“These life-size yellow figures interact with the precinct artwork by sitting in reflection, standing in pause, moving and meandering throughout the Kings Square precinct, some more quiet than others.
“We have a diverse culture and audience – it’s about the people connecting Northbridge and the city.”
The figures respond to themes of connection and transit.
“The whole precinct is really supportive of the arts and they’re supporting a mixture of contemporary arts, both permanent and ephemeral so it’s a really beautiful cross section of artwork typologies.”
Bronze figures by Rod Garlett, a synthetic contoured turf piece by Nicole Voevodin-Cash, a lighting system by Damien Butler, glass artwork by Pascal Dombis and Gill Percal and a light installation by Warren Langley are the permanent pieces in the precinct.
Artsource chief executive Gavin Buckley said the launch would bring the Kings Square precinct to life.
“Artsource is delighted to have worked with the artists who have created these new public artworks enhancing our city and playing a vital role in the development of this site, which sees the reconnection of the Perth CBD with Northbridge for the first time in 100 years,” Mr Buckley said.
Visitors will have a chance to meet Ms Pine and fellow artists Warren Langley, Rod Garlett, Fred Chaney and Ritchie Kuhapt in walk and talks about their installations at 2.30pm-3pm on Saturday April 30.
An afternoon of festivities includes community mural painting, lantern making and street dance performances on Telethon Avenue, culminating in a dusk concert by Phil Walley-Stack.