Patients, staff and visitors at the soon to be completed new Footscray Hospital will be able enjoy a more welcoming environment thanks to the work of local artists.
The state government announced on Tuesday that artists had been commissioned to create works that will adorn various spaces within the $1.5 billion hospital which is expected to open by the end of this year.
Among them is Ethiopian-born, Melbourne-based artist, Olana Janfa, has been appointed to create 80 original works – titled ‘Heal and Thrive’. The works will be inspired by community reflections that will be uncovered at a series of workshops with community members, local schools, hospital staff and volunteers.
Melbourne artist Jarra Karalinar Steel has also been selected to develop a visual art concept within the hospital precinct, with her piece, ‘Time of Renewal’, will be installed on the pedestrian footbridge over Ballarat Road connecting the hospital with Victoria University (VU).
Executive director of the Moondani Balluk Indigenous Academic Unit at VU, Karen Jackson, said the footbridge was an appropriate site for Jarra Steele’s work.
“The deep storytelling of Boonwurrung Jarra Steele’s artwork links land, sky and seasons in the new Footscray hospital VU building to our Moondani Balluk ways of embracing people, connecting Country to place, and giving strong healing to First Nations people and all who walk and engage with us,” Ms Jackson said.
Other public art commissions across the new hospital include a 10-metre tapestry – currently being woven by the Australian Tapestry Workshop – which will be displayed in the hospital’s main entrance and is designed by Maree Clarke (Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung) and Mitch Mahone (Boonwurrung/Barkindji).
Nick Athanasiou’s ‘Journey to Footscray’, celebrating stories of migration to Melbourne’s western suburbs, will be featured on recessed external wall panels.
