Contemporary Art and the Transformation of Space into Place by Neil Hobbs

Aboriginal Nation

Ngunnawal and Ngambri

Client

University of Canberra, Faculty of Arts and Design

Location

Lake Burley Griffin, Australian Capital Territory

Jury comment

How can temporary art transform space into place? This was the central research question explored through the inaugural iteration of the public art biennial Contour 556. A case study for Neil Hobbs’ PhD research project, the event sought to change the public’s perception of space by using temporary art installations to highlight the key design principles of Lake Burley Griffin. Artists and landscape architect worked together so installations could play and interact with the physical, cultural and historic landscape. Audience responses were documented, revealing that through engaging with the art their interpretation and experience of the landscape was altered.

This thoroughly researched project successfully demonstrates that public art can impact people’s reading and memory of place. Importantly for the profession, it has revealed that a careful, landscape architecture-driven approach to siting works and performances can enhance the public’s appreciation and reading of a designed place.

Entrant Neil Hobbs Project team Neil Hobbs and 100 artists collectively over the 2016 and 2018 iterations; numerous in kind supporters and contributors to crowd funding platforms; ably supported by the Contour 556 team, Karina Harris, Jordan EvansTse and Bronwyn Blake Photography Mark Pokorny; Sean Davey