A sense of place down Great Ocean Road

VINTAGE surveying equipment and military tents dot local artist Ryan F Kennedy’s forested Glenlyon property.

Antique stretchers, ammunition crates and old navy cannon shells sit by a corner in his workspace.

But he’s not a war history buff, rather Kennedy’s historical collection will soon comprise his next art exhibit to be displayed on a 350-metre stretch of the Great Ocean Road.

He is one of 16 creatives selected to take part in this year’s Lorne Sculpture Biennale, which will see each artist plying their practice in their own allocated precinct along the Heritage highway.

Located within the event’s fifth precinct, the work, titled Monument, will be Kennedy’s third contribution to the exhibition.

With a shared theme encompassing spirit of place, Kennedy’s exhibit serves to honour the 3000 World War I veterans that helped survey and construct the road.

“It’s a living memorial. Just having a human presence there, we’re able to give it life,” Kennedy said.

“There’s something about monuments. You just think of them as a statue, as a road, as a thing or object.

“But I quickly realised that it’s very much about what the people around it are talking about, and the community around it that shape the meaning behind these places.”

Monument aims to depict the different standpoints and views through which different communities view history, ultimately seeking “a more inclusive understanding” of the Great Ocean Road.

Kennedy visited a series of memorials across the country and consulted with both traditional owners and ornithologists in order to find the conceptual foundation of his piece.

The Lorne Sculpture Biennale will take place across three weeks, from Saturday, 12 March until Sunday, 3 April, and each artist has received special permission to camp and work at their sites throughout its duration.

Monument will be accompanied by live soundscapes provided by musician Ben Michael alongside Kennedy, the result of which will be released as an album.

Kennedy said he wants people to come away from the work with “a more comprehensive view” of monuments and their role within different cultures.

“What drew me into this work was photos of the soldiers digging the trenches in WWI, and it made me think about how nowadays we’ve just entrenched ourselves in our own little bubbles,” he said.

“When you look across No Man’s Land, you’ve got to look over to the other side to understand others as well, and have that sense of empathy.

“I think in doing that, right and wrong becomes less defined, and there’s growth that we can have in that.”

Alongside the exhibits, Lorne Sculpture Biennale will also feature ticketed and free events including the Sculpture Plus program and a Small Sculpture Prize and Exhibition.

Works by participating artists will be available for purchase via an online gallery.