Borrowed Landscape

Artist Jamie North’s Borrowed Landscape, 2019 is a sculptural arrangement of heritage sandstone and brick blocks uncovered by archaeological site works during the construction of the Newcastle Light Rail. These repurposed materials were associated with earlier harbour and heavy rail infrastructure, including the former Market Street Boat Harbour, Honeysuckle Station and Newcastle Station.

The artist’s personal and familial connections to Newcastle informed his approach to working with the raw and industrial materials as well as the selection of native plantings which are integrated into the sandstone formations.

Located at Worth Place adjacent to the Light Rail corridor, this sculpture will change and develop as the plant species seasonally flower, grow and mature over time. Borrowed Landscape brings art and history to the streets of Newcastle, paying respect to the city’s historical legacy while providing an installation adaptive and reflective of the city’s environment.

Artist Statement

Borrowed Landscape utilises excavated heritage materials and surplus elements resulting from Newcastle’s heavy rail decommissioning and subsequent light rail construction. The work “borrows” these materials and reconfigures them in a form which considers their past usage and that of their natural origin. Borrowed Landscape also hosts various plant species native to the Newcastle region which would typically exist with the sandstone blocks in their pre-quarried environment.  

Materials: sandstone, brick, mortar, steel

Species list:Ficus rubiginosa (Port Jackson fig), Ficus coronata  (sandpaper fig), Pyrrosia rupestris (rock felt fern), Dendrobium speciosum (Sydney rock orchid), Dockrillia striolata (streaked rock orchid), Hoya australis (common wax flower), Hoya pottsii.