For this large scale art opportunity Amanda reached out to international and Australian artists to respond with proposals for an ambitious artwork spanning almost seven hundred meters along Zetland Avenue in addition to an open call for proposals. The brief developed by Amanda in collaboration with the City of Sydney and urban design teams was for a work that would visually and conceptually unite the spaces along and articulate Green Square's civic spine. Selected through this process was German artist Tobias Rehberger. As curator for the project Amanda has been working closely with the artist, his team and the City of Sydney throughout the development of the artwork which will be completed over the next year.

Tobias Rehberger is a leading artist of his generation. His public art proposal Here is Here. And Everywhere. is a series of four large scale colourful art installations including sculptural seating, cultural plantings and lighting. They create moments for visitors and residents of Green Square to pause, gather, enjoy and engage throughout the town centre. In the artists words “the light of the spheres is timed to come on when the sun rises in the places that each art element relates to, referencing the global aspect of us all living and coming together under the same sun. Simultaneously viewing the sun in the Lake District whilst sitting on a sculptural object in Green Square in Sydney accents a commonality in the different, typical of contemporary life in the most positive way. Playing with romantic notions and aspirations, the work triggers one’s imagination of far away and exotic places while creating awareness of the actual site. This everyday experience plays on one’s fantasies whilst demonstrating geographical facts in real time, all without leaving the neighbourhood. Here is Here. And Everywhere acknowledges history and community, addressing the site with humour in a way that people can easily relate to. It connects us with different places in the world, by showing us different views of this one big object that is so essential to our lives: the sun.” The artwork is being developed with Blueprint for installation over the next year.

Rehberger’s internationally recognized influential career spans over 30 years. He has successfully delivered a prolific number of engaging, colourful and participatory public artworks that are influenced by 20th century design and architecture, and often investigate multiculturalism in a play with audience perception. His art demonstrates the highest level of artistic excellence, with an aesthetic appeal that makes it alluring, accessible and inviting.​

This ambitious work is the largest permanent artwork curated by Amanda and commissioned by the City of Sydney as part of the Green Square Public Art Program. Other curated artworks in the program include Maria Fernanda Cardoso's While I Will Live I Will Grow, installed at the entrance to the Joynton Avenue Creative Centre in 2016 and Kerrie Poliness, Stream, an artwork integrated into the landscape architecture of the Drying Green that was recently installed in the park. Additional artworks commissioned as part of Green Square development include Bangala by Jonathan Jones with Aunty Julie Freeman for Gunyama Park, Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro's Cloud Nation in the Green Square Library and Michael Thomas Hill & Indigo Hanlee's High Water in Green Square Plaza. 

Images: Tobias Rehberger