Neutral Bay Public Art Installations

The Art of Civics by ESEM Projects 2019

“This option includes a creative treatment of a photographic portrait responding to the life and work of Walter Liberty Vernon. Vernon was resident in Neutral Bay and also NSW Government Architect appointed in 1890, designing the Art Gallery of NSW, Central Station and Mitchell Library among other major civic landmarks. Our approach to the artwork
connects contemporary audiences to the story and legacy of Vernon at a time when Sydney is undergoing major civic renewal. The artwork will integrate architectural and artistic motifs that inspired Vernon, including arts and crafts motifs
and free classical style. We see the opportunity to extend this approach in the development of a local artwork for Neutral Bay that captures the civic vision of Vernon, who saw the design of public buildings as ‘Monuments to Art’"

Walter Liberty Vernon (1846-1913)
Architect. Lived in Neutral Bay. As NSW Government
Architect he designed many iconic buildings including Central Railway Station, the Art Gallery of NSW and the Mitchell Library

Margaret Tucker MBE by Warwick Keen 2019

“The north shore in Sydney was heavily populated with Aboriginal people prior to colonisation and with my concept developments I’d love to highlight this most paramount aspect of this country’s history.
I’m a born and bred country man, and my Indigenous heritage emanates from north-western NSW. It was a pleasant surprise for me to discover that Margaret Tucker resided in Neutral Bay and so I have utilised her image among my concepts.
I have utilised my own artworks and images as a basis for all of my work. I have also utilised Photoshop software to create a more contemporary feel and design to my selected images.”

Dame Mary Gilmore by Paul McDonald 2019

“Dame Mary Gilmore was an Australian writer and journalist known for her prolific contributions to Australian literature and the broader national discourse. She was also the female face of the Australian $10 note and taught at Neutral Bay School. One of her most important works was published in 1931, The Wild Swan, which drilled into the unfair way Aborigines were treated by the white population, particularly in how their old lore was being systematically destroyed. Responding to this, the local history, land and the portrait of Dame Mary Gilmore, I will collect fallen leaves and other plants from the local area. From this I will use a traditional photographic printing process called ’Cyanotype”.