David Hourigan's work has been credited with reigniting a nostalgic reverence for a fading Melbourne era, in which the dusty and decrepit landmarks that give Melbourne its character are slowly disappearing.
While the dusty and decrepit landmarks that give Melbourne its character are slowly disappearing, sparking council backflips on building codes and a city-wide conversation about what makes ‘beautiful’ architecture, Hourigan is at it again.
After his dazzling miniature replica of Cherry Bar drew widespread attention – part of a series themed around live music venues, something which the artist says he commenced during Melbourne’s latest two-week lockdown – he’s now brought his wizardry to The Tote.
After humble beginnings recreating some of the western suburbs’ distinctive shops and venues, the now-famed Australian artist’s Instagram is overflowing with incredible miniature replicas, representing an eclectic mix of Melbourne’s most iconic and its most underrated buildings.
His loving attention to detail and incredible capacity to recreate each inch of the buildings at the most fractional level has seen him garner rave reviews on social media.
This particular scale model sold to a collector within days of posting it on Instagram, paying tribute to the iconic Collingwood rock venue, which was first built in the 1870s.
Hourigan told us that he was next thinking of building a replica of the Punters Club on Brunswick Street in Fitzroy, saying that “when it comes to grimy old-school live music venues, I feel spoilt for choice, to be honest.”
Interestingly enough, he’s not the first person to build a scale replica of The Tote. OK Motels asked Callum Preston to fashion a replica of The Tote for a purpose-built mini golf course in May this year.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the care he shows for his models can inspire a cathartic reaction from his audience.
Follow him on Instagram here.
