Melbourne central
This is a refurbishment of Melbourne Central Lower Ground, a subterranean shopping arcade that links Lonsdale Street with Melbourne Central train station.
The Lower Ground ‘street’ is now populated by a series of coloured ceiling ‘portals’.
The portals are an industrial abstraction; they are moments of intense colour that are dramatically numbered with neon light.
They contain mirror and video art and seduce the shopper or commuter to look up, rather than down at a mobile phone (which seems to be coming standard posture).
New, over scaled abstract stone furniture encourages people to sit a while and engage with the portals.
The installation of the Lower Ground ‘portals’ adds a new dimension to the conventional shopping centre experience.
It is unexpected and consequently memorable and engaging.
There is an opportunity for every commuting punter to quite accidentally tap into Melbourne’s vibrant art scene.
Equally, there is an opportunity for Melbourne’s emerging artists to reach a broader number of Melbournians.
