Explore and learn about the arts and culture of Western Melbourne. The artistic features of Western Melbourne are reflected in the numerous works of art. A rich and vibrant historical background has influenced many innovative artists and artistic works. Melbourne’s West is an undiscovered gem for creative exploration. The unique combination of Indigenous and modern art allows you to experience the history progression of the region through artistic expression.Unique Aboriginal art designs are featured throughout the Western suburbs. Learn about Melbourne’s West through artistic expression and architectural development. Our project is about Art History & Environment of Melbourne’s West. We divide into two parts; art pieces outside the museum (in the History Garden), and research into a piece named Shaman travelling to the underworld. The subject of each piece will share in telling the story of art and culture in Melbourne’s West.
-Shaman Travelling to the Underworld-
This is one of the marvelous art pieces in the Living Museum of the West. It’s called Shaman Travelling to the Underworld, which is created by a Canadian-Mary Longman. The work is a petroglyph that made from concrete and pigment, shaping in a human body, giving its uniqueness. The idea of it derived from a photograph of another petroglyph in a book titled Sacred Sites. The work created a Bridge in many ways, the concept and form linked itself to local Aboriginal stories of the serpent who lives under the earth, but as well it is in a site where it will always be viewed by people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Shaman Travelling to the Underworld video
-Art Pieces in the History Garden-
These are part of the art pieces in the History Garden. The History Garden is located outside the living museum of the west. It used to be a pipe-make factory and the government asked some young people to improve it. All of the design and making were finished by them. They all have different meanings and ideas. The overall design concept of the garden is complicated. It combines the elements of aboriginal people, colonisation period and immigration time etc. The work was completed by a group of young artists, some of them were even disability. In this project, I will focus more on the real and detailed meaning of the art pieces.
Art Pieces in the History Garden video