Counterpoint
Collaboration with Barbara Heath.
Suburban Centre Improvement Projects | Brisbane City Council Project for Taringa, Queensland, 2006.
Brisbane City Council invited Barbara Heath and Mandy Ridley to collaborate on a suite of works for the streetscape. It was a rewarding experience with each artist bringing years of experience and a shared passion for pattern to the project. Together they devised the response Counterpoint.
It is the dialogue or visual writing of these patterns gives the work its title:
Counterpoint – the ability (in music) to say two things at once comprehensively ... the combination of simultaneous parts or voices, each of significance in itself and the whole resulting in a coherent texture.
The dialogue can imply a counterpoint of nature and the man-made, history and the present, commerce and the community space as well as the conversation between two artists.
Completed project: detail
Site photography of completed work by Rod Buchholz.
About the streetscape
Site One: Counterpoint
The five component sculptural work is sited to create a gathering space and suggested engaged dialogue, a coming together of many diverse groups and histories. The dynamic forms reveal deep vibrantly coloured surfaces that are activated by the movement of the viewer through the space, or from an approaching vehicle. Finely detailed filigree laser-cut patterned sections will create a sense of shade as well as cast intricate shadows which are animated for the viewer as they walk through the space.
Site Two: Moorak Street Corner
Scaled to create an intimate connection with the viewer, the smaller works are placed to suggest a restful pause when passing through the site. The eye level positioning of the laser-cut patterning will allow the viewer to enjoy some of the paired pattern combinations. The closeness of two screens allows for overlaying of several patterns from any vantage point. Surfacing the entire sculptures in the cool softer colours drawn from the Counterpoint sculpture at Site One will reiterate the larger work.
Site Three: Morrow Street/Moggill Road Wedge
A key entrance marker to the Taringa commercial precinct, the final artwork both names and introduces the entire project. Strong contemporary colours, carefully detailed patterning which references a historical tradition combined in a clean urban style. The overlaying of laser cut patterns in a three–dimensional structure creates an artwork that intrigues a lingering eye yet is still immediately legible.
Process: concept development & fabrication
Process images and conceptual development photography by Rod Buchholz and Mandy Ridley.