Atlassian Central is the high profile anchor development of Sydney's newest CBD located Tech Central precinct, designed by New York based SHoP with BVN for Atlassian and Dexus. The public art is the gateway to this important precinct that must set the bar high. 

Amanda is currently curating a multi million dollar program of permanent public artworks by exceptional Australian and international artists for the development. Her brief to artists, developed in collaboration with Dexus, Atlassian and the design teams, was to create innovative and extraordinary work to reflect Atlassian’s key principals of sustainability, diversity, engagement, innovation and respect for the First Nations site heritage. Contemporary, meaningful, compelling, unique, relevant and engaging, the public art needs to transcend the decorative to provide a rich, memorable and extraordinary experience of place, and a distinct offering to Sydney.

One of the two public artworks in the Atlassian Central public art program that also includes an artwork by Korean American artist Soo Sunny Park, is by First Nations artist Brook Andrew, who was selected from a shortlist of six First Nations artists proposed by the curator, with the proposal giwang dinawan yiray (moon–emu-sun). The artwork will be an installation of three abstracted LED sculptural elements representing the moon, emu and sun as “way-finders and portals of First Nations Knowledge of the site and greater Australia” according to the artist. “Constellations of the dinawan (emu) are echoed throughout southern skies and empower and impart important Knowledge systems of seasons and way-finding”. The artwork alludes to celestial dreaming stories of the Milky Way found in the artist’s Wiradjuri ancestors and First Nations clans throughout Australia, with similarities in celestial stories and astronomy of ancient First Nation and non-First Nations cultures throughout the world, ingeniously connecting the Atlassian Central site with the rest of Australia and the world through Sky Country. “When the Milky Way rises in April and May, the Emu becomes clear. In First Nations culture the sun and the moon are often important companions forthe emu dreaming, and link to contemporary scientific thought and astronomy” Brook explains. Innovative First Nations Astronomy, such as the Emu in the Sky and other constellations were used to guide First Nations people through Country and the seasons, on and off tracks, and the emu figure alludes to this as historical place where three important First Nations tracks converged for nearby gatherings. 

The LED components will be animated and change colours indicating the six First Nations D’harawal seasons, our current daily climate and cycles of the moon. “The sun will change colour and intensity to reflect daily and rising temperatures as informed by data from the Bureau of Meteorology, and the emu programmed according to the six seasons. The moon sculpture will progressively change from semi to full over the cycle of our actual moon. As such, giwang dinawan yiray (moon–emu-sun)is a portal for Knowledge around the seasons, the climate, sustainability and way-finding, becoming an important way-finding landmark in itself, a clock and a signpost for climate change” says the artist.

As public art curator Amanda continues to work closely with Brook Andrew and his team, Dexus/Atlassian and the design teams at SHoP and BVN to drive, facilitate and manage the artwork development through to completion. Brook’s team is working with Event Engineering on the detailed development of the artwork.

Image: Brook Andrew & SHoP/BVN