Signature public art commission inspired by First Nations connection to Country

• Torres Strait Islander artist Brian Robinson has been selected to create a permanent public artwork for the entry of the new theatre at the Queensland Cultural Centre.
• The First Nations public art commission is a signature component of the new theatre.
• The Queensland Government is investing in the delivery of the new $175 million theatre, creating a fifth theatre for the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) to make QPAC the largest performing arts centre in Australia.

Internationally recognised Torres Strait Islander artist Brian Robinson has been named as the selected artist to develop his concept design for a distinctive piece of public art for the new theatre now under construction at the Queensland Cultural Centre.

Brian’s signature work Floriate, inspired by Queensland’s natural flora and its connection to First Nations people, is an approximately four-metre-high bronze sculpture that will be positioned in the external entry forecourt of the new theatre.

The sculpture features graceful flowering plants and an elongated ribbon form, referencing key river systems that connect to South Brisbane through the South East, Wallum, Central, Wet Tropics, Murray-Darling, Lake Eyre and Bulloo, and Western Cape and Gulf.

This design traces First Nations histories by incorporating native flowers that are culturally significant to Aboriginal people as medicines, decorations, food sources, and tools, while the intricate patterns embedded within the surface of the sculpture showcase ancestral narratives influenced by mythology, the environment and the cosmos above Torres Strait.

The project’s independent Public Artwork First Nations Selection Panel praised the concept design and the sophisticated weaving together of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories: “With its cultural layering from the use of significant flowers to the stories built within the patternmaking, the design pays homage to how the story has been gently but strikingly woven together.”

Brian Robinson, along with artist Megan Cope, was shortlisted by the selection panel following an Expression of Interest (EOI) process seeking First Nations artists with a cultural connection to Queensland.

The shortlisted artists each produced a concept design working alongside First Nations design consultant Blaklash Creative and public art specialists UAP.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for the Arts, Hon Leeanne Enoch MP:

“Brian Robinson’s stunning sculpture Floriate tells a story that connects the beauty of Queensland’s natural environment with First Nations culture and knowledge of Country.

“Floriate will be a striking artwork to welcome audiences to the new theatre in a place that has been the location of ceremony and storytelling for thousands of years.

“This beautiful sculpture will showcase Queensland First Nations culture to national and international visitors ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“Thank you to Brian Robinson and Megan Cope for participating in the EOI, to UAP and Blaklash Creative for their work throughout the selection process, and to the selection panel who chose the final concept design for this major public work.”

Quotes attributable to artist Brian Robinson:

“I am extremely humbled to have been selected for such an amazing opportunity. Floriate represents Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that have evolved and developed out of their relationship and balance with the land, the sea (or water) and the sky including their intimate knowledge of these environments, which has provided them with water, food, shelter, and medicine.

“Positioned at the entrance to the new theatre, it will welcome each and every one into this space where dance, theatre, visual arts and storytelling intertwine and cascade across the stage.”

Quotes attributable to QPAC Chief Executive John Kotzas:

“We are delighted at the announcement of Brian Robinson’s Floriate as the successful artwork for this significant public art commission,” Mr Kotzas said.

“By incorporating elements of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and referencing locations from Southeast Queensland right up to the Cape, Brian’s design concept behind Floriate articulates beautifully QPAC’s role as a performing arts centre for all of Queensland.

“The intention was always to commission an artwork that would be a strong statement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ enduring connection to country, something Brian’s work artwork will capture as a permanent and engaging part of QPAC’s public space.

“I would like to acknowledge the personal and heartfelt commitment of both Megan Cope and Brian Robinson to this commissioning process.”

Quotes attributable to Troy Casey, Director, Blaklash

"We are privileged to work alongside Brian as he breathes life into his creative vision - Floriate.

“Brian's exceptional talent and unwavering dedication have rightfully earned him the opportunity to create a significant public artwork for Queensland's new theatre.”

Quotes attributable to Natasha Smith, Director, Curatorial, UAP

“We at UAP are thrilled that Brian Robinson has been selected for the public art commission.

“We are excited to work with Brian again to deliver Floriate, an extraordinary public artwork that embodies the rich heritage of Queensland’s First Nation peoples and will be enjoyed by audiences for years to come.”

Further information:

• UAP will work with Brian Robinson on the developed design and fabrication of the public artwork Floriate.
• The selection panel members are Avril Quaill (Chair), Carla McGrath, Chris Saines, Georgina Richters, Judy Watson.
• The new 1500 capacity theatre will increase the footprint of Queensland Performing Arts Centre, to create the largest performing arts centre in Australia, with five outstanding venues.
• For more information visit: www.arts.qld.gov.au/npav

Further information about Brian Robinson:

Brian Robinson has literally carved out a distinctive presence within a remarkably talented generation of contemporary Australian artists. Raised on Waiben and now Cairns-based, he has become known for his printmaking, sculpture and public art in which he uses a variety of techniques to produce bold, innovative and distinctive works that cross boundaries between reality and fantasy.

Punctuated with mischief and humour, Robinson’s works exude a joyful ebullience that is at once exciting and infectious. Navigating a distinct space-time continuum, these compelling works act as a personal mnemonic for the artist - particular in its detail, specific in its tastes - a unique assemblage of icons and emblems that channel a continued connection to the past.

Born in 1973, Brian grew up in the idyllic tropical surroundings of the Torres Strait Islands. His family are fisher folk whose Roman Catholic faith exists in synergy with traditional spirituality. His ancestral lineage extends back to the Maluyligal people of Torres Strait and the Wuthathi people from Cape York Peninsula.

Brian is internationally recognised for his printmaking and public sculptures and his work has contributed significantly to the built environment of numerous cities across the country through major public art commissions.

ENDS

Media contact – Pema Bastin 0422 655 582