Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex Public Artworks
The public artworks are now installed at the new state-of-the-art Forensic Medicine and Coroners Court Complex at Lidcombe, and staff have moved across from Glebe. The artworks were commissioned from leading Sydney based artists to activate and enhance a building of state-wide significance. Individually, each artist investigates different aspects of place and together they give the building a unique identity intersecting art, history and local environment. The selected artists considered the sensitive nature of the building and difficult circumstances of many of it’s visitors.
Holding Up The Sky by Gary Carsley
“Holding Up The Sky”, is a monumental landscape image of the nationally significant tree line of Lidcombe realised as a contemporary form of digital “intarsia”. Intarsia is a form of wood inlay that reached its peak in early Renaissance at the same time as the forensic science of pathology was beginning.
Gary Carsley is an artist based in Sydney whose public works include The Justice Precinct (Parramatta), Orchard Central (Singapore) and Sullivan & Cromwell’s Global Head Office (New York). Among his recent studio projects are “The National – New Australian Art” (Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney) and the 9th Asia Pacific Triennial (Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane).
Mangrove by Jade Oakley
Lidcombe is surrounded by tidal rivers lined with mangroves connecting to Sydney Harbour.
Mangrove represents resilience, shelter and balance.
Mangrove trees are known for their resilience, enduring immense variations in salinity and temperature, tolerating sea water flooding and thriving in a soaked bed of mire. Mangroves shelter many forms of life, creating a complex habitat for insects, crabs, molluscs and fish. The Mangrove forests protect our coastlines from erosion and damage from storms.
Mangrove moves slowly and gracefully in response to gentle air currents within the void. This gentle movement creates a sense of peace and a meditative experience for the viewer.
Duck River by Leanne Tobin
‘Duck River is located on the Burramattagal clan areas of the Darug nation and was once an important food resource that was shared by the various Darug clans that lived along the local waterways.
The design concept acknowledges the shared clan connections along the river and the estuarine environment of the area which encompasses the Forensic Medicine and Coroner's Court with the placement of the mangroves along the river, the connecting camp sites and the white egrets flying overhead.'
Paperbark Flowers by Oliver Watts
In vibrant coloured paper, this work compresses the flora of local the estuarine areas. Mangrove flowers and paperbark brushes meet in an abstracted composition, of trees and waterways. The river is a vital source of life in the area and this work celebrates its natural beauty. The cut paper is layered like the paperbarks themselves.
Butterfly Wings 1 &2, Banksia Leaves & Fishing Tree by Marguerite Derricourt
These four sculptures reflect the natural environment of the Lidcombe area. Butterfly wings, banksia leaves and a fishing tree representative of the original peoples who inhabited the area. The colours are those of the bushland in this part of New South Wales and combined with the planting , create a peaceful and reflective oasis in the building .
Historical images sourced and photographed by Chris Johnson.
Images of the new FMCC Lidcombe under construction and completed project photographed by Steve Turner and Chris Johnson.
Compilation design by Yolanda La Gorcé.