Creativity and Culture: Museum of Brisbane’s Walking Art Tour

Time-travelling lungfish floating in a mosaic of glass tiles, a four-breasted female empowerment goddess cast in bronze, and a striking botanical sculpture spanning 15 metres, showcasing the cultural misrepresentation of Aboriginal people… These are just a few of the art installations that can be sighted on the Museum of Brisbane’s Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Precinct Public Art Tour. I’ve been intrigued about the new riverfront entertainment precinct and the art that now adorns the landscape, and so I jumped at the chance when an invitation dropped to join the guided walking tour. 

PHOTOS: KELLEY SHEENAN

ABOVE: LINDY LEE BEING SWALLOWED BY THE MILKY WAY

Admittedly, going into the city, much less the new Star Casino, is not generally high on my list of priorities. So I was happily surprised to discover the recently redeveloped public area around the Queens Wharf precinct sports a multitude of artworks and sculptures conveying cultural, historical, social, environmental and Indigenous storytelling nestled in the landscaped urban and riverside green spaces. The 90-minute tour is presented by an expert Museum of Brisbane tour guide and ‘explores the intersection of art, history, landscape and identity’, showcasing works by First Nations, Queensland and international artists alongside historical buildings and landmarks. Shout out to our knowledgeable guide Revy, who I could have listened to all day!

TOP: (L) JUSTENE WILLIAMS SHEILA (R) MR WANAMBI DESTINY (MIDDLE) SAMUEL TUPOU LUNGFISH DREAMZ
(BELOW L) JOHN ELLIOT NEVILLE BONNER (BELOW R) TONY ALBERT INHABITANT

It was a lovely way to explore my own backyard and learn more about the history of the Meanjin lands that I live on. The spectacular artworks that now dot the revived public walkways invite you to experience the area with fresh eyes. The short (and accessible) wander around the iconic site had us taking in Lindy Lee’s star-spangled Being Swallowed by the Milky Way, Justene Williams’ gigantic four-breasted Sheila, the aluminium baking tray figure Looking Up by Tom Friedman and contemporary Indigenous artist Tony Albert’s botanical creation Inhabitant, amongst many other important works. “Brisbane is a part of my heart, and I am so grateful to have been able to work with the local community to present this work,” Tony Albert says of the piece. “It is wonderful to see a growing number of Indigenous indicators in public spaces. We need aspirations for our First Nations children to be visibly seen as a part of our landscape.”

It is wonderful to see a growing number of Indigenous indicators in public spaces

Book a tour here for a boost of creativity and culture!

THANKS TO VISIT BRISBANE FOR THE INVITE!