Art in public spaces influences how we understand and experience our environment. An uplifting encounter with art on our way between destinations can contribute positively to feelings of attachment, safety and pride.
Artists are energetically embracing the opportunity to bring their work into highly visible public spaces, after enduring a period of reduced workloads in 2021. It’s a ‘win, win’ to have artists working in our activity centres - the arts industry is supported and our public spaces come to life with stories and colour.
New artworks such as Hayden Dewar’s 20-metre long mural entitled Together is a welcome sight for residents, visitors and returning office workers in Greater Dandenong. The design acknowledges and celebrates the First Nations people of the area, it’s flora and fauna, and the culturally diverse backgrounds of Greater Dandenong residents.
Together features two large creatures, the Ringtail Possum and Crow, painted on gum tree branch with a mythical creature called a ‘Solarquin’ sitting at the centre of the work.
The ‘Solarquin’ represents the search for a harmonious existence with nature and each other, a reoccurring thread in many of Hayden’s murals. Hayden Dewar is an accomplished muralist and painter, with over 17 years’ experience. In 2020 he created, Roots in Noble Park which can be seen from the street and train.
Greater Dandenong Council has a program of temporary public art projects which has been implemented over many years, complimenting Councils’ collection of permanent artworks.
Transformed is a temporary public art program that applies to Greater Dandenong’s Activity Centres.
