As the world marks 100 years since the end of the Great War, and Australia reflects on a legacy that has shaped its national identity, renowned U.K. artist Bruce Munro will transform the notion of memorial through an immersive artwork in Western Australia’s charming city of Albany.
Situated on the south coast of Western Australia in the Great Southern region, Albany is a short 4.5 hour drive from Perth. Known for its pristine Middleton Beach, and Torndirrup National Park where visitors can enjoy whale watching from the many dramatic seaside cliffs, this summer, Albany adds yet another attraction to its contemporary, yet traditional vibe, the Field of Light: Avenue of Honour.
The installation of 16,000 glass spheres will light up the city’s Mt Clarence in honour of the location where 41,000 troops departed Australia for the Great War.
Dotted with colonial buildings standing proudly as museums, galleries and restaurants the city was once the landing spot for the first European settlers to Australia. Now fashioned into a location that celebrates world-class wine, modern cuisine, surfing, hiking, and other activities, the city is the perfect place for such an installation that celebrates contemporary Australian culture.
The artwork will shine at night with thousands of glass spheres on slender stems planted along the avenue at Albany Heritage Park by local volunteers, illuminating the tree-lined path blooming at night like wildflowers after rain.
Munro, who says the idea for a field of light came to him after a visit to central Australia in 1992, was inspired by the rich light he experienced. “I had an idea that when a field grows dark, stems of light would burst in bloom. When I returned to England, I put photocopies of the sketches on my studio walls. I started with a small version in my backyard in the U.K., and then created installations in the U.K. and U.S., but it was a long time before I could bring it to Australia, it was like a dream come true,” he says.
Incorporating Munro’s motif use of light on an environmental scale to create an emotional response for the viewer, Field of Light: Avenue of Honour will symbolise wild beauty, sacrifice, courage and honour.
Coinciding with the Armistice, the installation will embody peace, hope and light; a celebration of a brighter future and a timely reminder for the need of hope and peace amid a world of chaos and conflict. The installation will light up Albany until April 2019
For more information on this inspired art installation, click here.
