By Chloe Davies
A tapestry inspired by the nature and history of Melbourne’s west will be one of the public artworks featured in the new Footscray Hospital opening early next year.
Maree Clarke, a Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung artist and designer, and Mitch Mahoney, a young Boonwurrung/Barkindji artist and cultural educator have designed the piece, drawing inspiration from the native flora and fauna of the Maribyrnong River and the surrounding area.
In partnership with masterful weavers at the Australian Tapestry Workshop, Clarke and Mahoney’s design will be crafted into a three-dimensional tapestry measuring around four by ten metres. This will be one of the largest tapestries ever made for a public hospital in Victoria.
The artwork will be prominently displayed and suspended in the entrance of the new hospital visible from all angles, to cultivate a warm welcoming space for patients, visitors, and staff alike.
Clarke says it “felt incredible” to work on such an impactful project.
“I’ve spent quite a bit of time at Footscray hospital. It’s a pretty sad building. We wanted to create a beautiful and calming piece. The colours had to be soft and inviting.”
“I thought it would be a nice thing for people to see, especially in the middle or the end of their life journeys.”
Clarke says a total of ten weavers have been “madly working away” to produce around ten centimetres of the piece per week.
The tapestry is part of a broader initiative to commission public artworks for the new Footscray Hospital. Reflecting the theme ‘Journey to Footscray,’ another artist’s work will be featured on recessed wall panels inside the hospital, showcasing local stories of migration.
The internal fit-out of Footscray Hospital continues, including the construction of operating theatres in the main hospital building, alongside other services to be offered.
