The Platform
The Platform is a contemporary sculpture project, where commissioned artworks are displayed adjacent to the Mt Coot-tha Visitor Information Centre in the Mt Coot-tha precinct. After a time, the sculptures are relocated and included in the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha sculpture trail as part of Brisbane City Council's public art collection.
Current artwork
Native Still Life - Tony Albert
Native Still Life is inspired by the stunning native flowers that exist in context of botanical gardens and responds to how historically, these flowers have been visually associated with Aboriginal people through western home décor, adding to the construction of our national identity.
These popular appropriated images have adorned the Australian tourist market for decades and are recognised globally in reference to Australia’s identity. Tony deconstructs this imagery, giving back autonomy to the Aboriginal voices originally silenced in these objects, by reconfiguring, re-appropriating and intersecting them through this artwork.
“I aspire to create work that is not only visually appealing, but more importantly acts as a vehicle for stimulating discussion and creating change. As a visual artist I have the opportunity to communicate the historical truths that the education system, the media and society as a whole, denied me as a child.”
Tony Albert is a Brisbane-based Aboriginal artist. His works are provoked by stereotypical representations of Aboriginal people and Australia’s colonial history.
For a deeper engagement into Tony’s art practice, visit the Museum of Brisbane website to create your own MoB Makers: Collaborative Collage with Tony Albert, commissioned as part of Brisbane City Council’s Indigenous Art Program 2021.
Previous installations
Previous installations
The first commission Remainders 20 & 21, by acclaimed Australian artist Jamie North, consists of two cast bronze spheres punctuated with stippled holes allowing living Ficus to bind and grow from the interior.
Melbourne-based artist and designer Anna Varendorff installed the second commission, Large Arcs, in July 2018.
The 2019 commission Gone to Seed by Perth-based artist Stuart Green, is a vibrant, husk-like form.
Installed in August 2020, northern New South Wales artist Hiromi Tango artwork Roots expresses the artist's desire to be grounded in her adopted home of Australia, whilst creating space for her identity, culture and memories linked to a traditional upbringing in regional Japan.
Photo gallery
View a photo gallery of The Platform artworks.
'Native Still Life' by Tony Albert
This 2022 artwork is inspired by the stunning native flowers that exist in context of botanical gardens and responds to how historically, these flowers have been visually associated with Aboriginal people through western home décor, adding to the construction of our national identity.
'Roots' by Hiromi Tango
This 2020 artwork by Hiromi Tango expresses the artist's desire to be grounded in her adopted home of Australia, whilst creating space for her identity, culture and memories linked to a traditional upbringing in regional Japan.
'Gone to Seed' by Stuart Green
The 2019 commission was a vibrant, husk-like form by Perth-based artist, Stuart Green.
'Large Arcs' by Anna Varendorff
This artwork was created by Melbourne-based artist and designer, Anna Varendorff. It was the second commission and was installed in July 2018.
'Remainders 20 & 21' by Jamie North
This artwork by acclaimed Australian artist Jamie North consists of two cast bronze spheres punctuated with stippled holes allowing living ficus to bind and grow from the interior. The artwork was available for viewing in the first half of 2018.