Monumental art project ready to start

MAB Corporation is behind schedule on its “Monument Park” project but work on the large-scale artwork is expected to begin this month.

When the landscape-based artwork was announced in June last year, completion was hoped for the end of 2013, lining up with the completion of The Quays.

When asked why the project had been delayed, a MAB spokesperson said the sculptures were complicated structures.

The artwork, by Melbourne artist Callum Morton, will be located at the intersection of the Conder, Boyd and The Quays and is designed to look like a concrete carpet, featuring a pattern of the original Hoddle Grid draped over different shaped objects.

These objects are sculptures that can be found throughout Melbourne, including Vault, Burke and Wills and the Marquis of Linlithgow statue.

The sculptures will be broken open to reveal colourful interiors and parts of the “concrete carpet” will have holes, allowing trees and greenery to emerge.

“Over the past 12 months we have been working on how to best construct the sculptures,” the MAB spokesperson said.

“As most of the project is located on a wharf structure above water, we are limited to how much load we can place on the existing wharf.”

“We resolved the sculpture construction methodology early this year and commenced fabrication of the sculptures off-site in East Gippsland in March this year.”

According to the spokesperson, there have been no significant changes to the design since it was announced last year, apart from an increase in the amount of trees and grass.

Construction of the project is expected to begin this month and be completed by late 2014 or early 2015.