Internationally-renowned artist Fayen d’Evie will certainly make a mark on the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery.
The gifted creative’s been commissioned to craft two groundbreaking sculptures to help improve the accessibility of the new-look facility.
Her works will also solve a sculptural solution to the floating staircases on the ground level of the original 1977-built premises, which have been retained as part of the project but no longer adhere to modern building code standards for visitors who are blind or visually-impaired.
Ms d’Evie’s sculptures, supported by a $50,000 grant from Creative Australia and $50,000 from the NSW Government Arts and Culture Infrastructure Grants program, are expected to fill the space under the flight of steps and provide an important buffer to allow guests to safely move around the structures.
The multi-faceted works will be made primarily from steel and incorporate tactile versions of key works of art from the gallery’s collection, using a variety of raised textures to allow people to interpret the painting through touch.
The sculptures feature core samples from the bedrock and former mine shafts located underneath the building, which were stabilised through grouting during the construction process.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes explained the commission was a world-leading example of an artist and disability-led solution to modern compliance within historic architecture.
“City of Newcastle was the first council in NSW to adopt a Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which defines how we will undertake specific actions to reduce potential barriers faced by people with disabilities when living in, working in and visiting our city,” she said.
“We are committed to ensuring the expanded Newcastle Art Gallery is an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our community and are thrilled to be working with Fayen to achieve this aim.”
Born in Malaysia, Ms d’Evie was raised in New Zealand and now lives and works in Melbourne.
The artist, academic and publisher, who is low vision, has worked all over the world, including a residency at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art where she collaborated with conservators to initiate sensory encounters with artworks.
She said the site-specific Newcastle Art Gallery sculptures were intended to invite conversation, particularly between blind and sighted people.
“It was important they connected to Newcastle, which is why we chose steel as the foundational material,” Ms d’Evie added.
She’s also working closely with Newcastle creative business Feather Edge on the fabrication of the sculptures.
“We’ll also feature braille that will come from a community workshop where people will be invited to consider, reflect and describe some of the works that are being added to the sculpture,” Ms d’Evie said.
“A lot of the stories that are included point to people and forms that have been excluded from conventional art historical narratives.”
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