Coast’s art not in it
‘Forgotten’ sculptures find home in Brisbane
ONE council’s trash is another council’s treasure.
A collection of public artworks funded by Gold Coast ratepayers more than three years ago has finally found a home – in Brisbane.
Four of five sculptures financed from divisional funding allocated by former councillor Lex Bell as part of the Gold Coast Art Festival have been gathering dust in storage after council said it had nowhere to display them.
“One of the sculptures, by Tran Hoan Co, from Vietnam, was installed in Broadbeach but the other four are stored in a Gold Coast Show Society shed waiting to be moved,” Gold Coast sculptor and Urban Paradise Gallery founder Frederic Berjot said.
“They look sad and forgotten. Even though then Cr Lex Bell helped pay for the sculptures and wanted them for local parks, council’s Economic Development Committee rejected the artworks, saying ‘we have no parks for them’.”
Enter Brisbane Greens councillor for the Gabba, Jonathan Sri, who has offered to display the works in public spaces in his ward.
“Cr Siri had no second thoughts about accepting the beautiful public art,” Mr Berjot said.
Mr Berjot is preparing to unveil a new not-for-profit, artist-run Urban Paradise Gallery in Brisbane in Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba. He said the gallery building had been renovated thanks to “the Father Theresa of the arts”, developer and arts philanthropist Pedro Pikos.
“He will be building a 12storey high private health and wellness collective on the site in two years but in the meantime the space is being transformed into a community arts space,’’ he said.
Mr Berjot said the project had attracted support from the Brisbane City Council.
“It’s a nice change from Gold Coast Council,” he said.