Projections challenge typical monuments

FAMILIAR multicultural faces are being projected onto trees in the middle of Sturt Street each night throughout Ballarat Heritage Festival.

Wadawurrung man Barry Gilson, Greek restauranteur Terry Frangos, and Chinese Australian Cultural Society Ballarat vice-president Charles Zhang are the stars of free public artwork, Monuments, by Craig Walsh.

The artist’s aim has been to challenge what a public monument can be, and to contrast traditional colonial statues and memorials, while highlighting Ballarat’s First Nations and migrant roots.

“This project not only recognises Barry, Terry and Charles and their communities for their distinctive contribution to Ballarat, but also acts to represent the many people making a difference in this region, often in a way not recognised in our public monuments,” Walsh said.

Walsh has shown his work throughout Australia, in Japan, Singapore, the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

Monuments will be presented from 6pm and 9pm until Sunday 26 May as part of the 10-day festival, which City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson said is expected to put $2.5 million into the economy locally.

“Ballarat is known far and wide for its 1850s heritage, but it’s crucial we continue to deepen our understanding and celebrate the thousands of years that Indigenous peoples lived on these lands,” he said.

“I’m particularly proud of the First Nations focus in so many of the festival opportunities, including Jenna Oldaker’s creative immersion display story in the shipping container, the Victorian Opera performing Parrwang Lifts the Sky, and the Wadawurrung Culture and Language Session.

“The events that are on offer this year provide a brilliant mix of interactive experiences, food and drink, performances, markets, tours, workshops. You name it, we’ve got it covered.”

Visit ballaratheritagefestival.com.au for the full program.