In an Australian-first, a huge three-dimensional tapestry will take pride of place at the new Footscray Hospital.
A groundbreaking floating ellipse installation destined to be suspended over two levels at the $1.5b new Footscray Hospital, was unveiled this week at the Australian Tapestry Workshop (ATW) in South Melbourne.
Welcome to Country – now you see me: seeing the invisible is a 42 square metre tapestry created in collaboration with First Nations artists Maree Clarke (Yorta Yorta/Wamba Wamba/Mutti Mutti/Boonwurrung) and Mitch Mahoney (Boonwurrung/Barkindji), the design draws inspiration from microscopic views of river reeds from the Maribyrnong River.
This is not only Victoria’s largest tapestry commissioned for a public hospital, but also a first-of-its-kind; a 3D tapestry installation that merges contemporary design, traditional weaving and Indigenous storytelling in a public health setting.
Australia’s first 3D tapestry in Melbourne
- 12 weavers and 2 dyeing specialists
- 10,000 hours to complete over 14-months (April 2024 – June 2025)
- 42 square metres (4.2m high x 10m wide)
- Weighs over 135 kilograms
- Over 270 kilometres of yarn used, the distance from Footscray to Yarrawonga
- 103 yarn colours, including eight custom shades dyed onsite by ATW’s master dyer
Check out our gig guide, our festival guide, our live music venue guide and our nightclub guide. Follow us on Instagram here.
View this post on Instagram
Hand-woven over 10,000 hours by 12 weavers at ATW in South Melbourne, the tapestry weighs 135 kilograms and will be suspended as a floating ellipse over two levels in the hospital’s main foyer; a breathtaking welcome at the new Footscray Hospital for patients, staff and visitors.
The Australian Tapestry Workshop has produced more than 700 hand-woven tapestries since 1976, featured in institutions including Parliament House, the Australian War Memorial, the Sydney Opera House and 10 international embassies.
This commission is supported by The Premier’s Suite, a partnership between the Tapestry Foundation of Australia, the Victorian Government and the Australian Hotels Association, which funds major tapestry artworks for public hospitals.
The tapestry is part of a major three-year arts program for the Melbourne hospital, led by Footscray Community Arts Centre.
When complete later this year, the new Footscray Hospital aims to cut wait times, reduce pressure on nearby hospitals and help families get the care they need closer to home.
Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with Western Health, Plenary Health and Victoria University, major construction of the new Footscray Hospital is expected to be complete in late 2025.
Find out more here.
