Widening Our Artistic Reach
Artwork and sense of place are inextricably connected in Villawood’s many communities.
From the giant pelicans of Armstrong to the eagles, cockatoos, rainbow bee-eaters and robins peppered across the country, from the curly sedge and stiletto heel sculptures of Rathdowne to the beehives of Delaray and giant herons of William Lakes, art is an integral aspect of the Villawood manifesto.
Many works have been designed as urban markers, designating and complementing parks, trails, playgrounds and neighbourhood precincts, highlighting streets and facilities – much-loved landmarks in their own right.
Much of Villawood’s public art, by resident sculptor Folko Kooper, assumes natural themes – notably native birds, plants and flowers – but other elements are often at play as well.
Bluestone luggage sculptures, for instance, acknowledge the presence of migrants. Hybrid eagle biplane creations tip the hat to a previous life as an airfield. Tall, layered creations acknowledge the contours of a nearby escarpment. Other-worldly nesting boxes draw avian life to our wetlands.
Folko has delivered a stunning catalogue of work over the past two decades and more in his signature russet-coloured corten steel medium.
A massive faunal and floral catalogue includes includes sulphur-crested and palm cockatoos, falcon, ibis, butterflies, dragonflies, penguins, wrens, lyrebirds, swans, platypus, peacocks, roses, daffodils, oak leaves, tulips, grape leaves and sunflowers.
There are lots more again, and other mediums he utilises as well: galvanised steel, bronze, stainless steel, polyethylene, polycarbonate, glass and Perspex, even barbed wire.
As Villawood expands its national footprint, the Hobart-based Folko is sharing the artistic load with fellow sculptor, and talented park designer, Ben Gilbert.
Ben, a native of north-eastern Victoria’s Yackandandah, is already scoping out Villawood’s forthcoming Moorabool flagship at Geelong, a site rich in indigenous heritage, historical values and site opportunities.
Working from an old sawmill, Ben and his Agency of Sculpture have been designing and building sculptural playgrounds and civic sculptures around Australia, and internationally, for the past 20 years.
His stunning dragons, humpback helicopter gunships, crustaceans, dragonfly, coal poppy, sunflower, wheelbarrow, seed, acorn and built-form works have won numerous awards and commendations across housing, gardening, cubby, sustainability and architecture disciplines.
His creativity and innovation stem from studies in furniture design and sculpture in Tasmania and Estonia, creative pursuits in ice and stone sculpture through Scandinavia and Russia, together with years working in Eastern Europe alongside traditionally trained masters.
Ben’s work has featured on Great Designs, snaffled AIA National awards, even been presented to Denmark’s Queen Mary.Is dragons, gunships, Villawood looks forward with anticipation to his contribution to our public art oeuvre.
