Beautiful new artworks are popping up around major construction zones as part of a City of Sydney effort to support artists and brighten streets.

Construction hoardings are required on large developments, to create a safe barrier between the worksite and the public.

In a bid to liven up Sydney streets, the City of Sydney’s innovative creative hoardings program requires developers in high traffic areas to cover these barriers with art by a living Australian artist or relevant historical images.  

Developers can commission their own artist, or they can use artworks licensed by the City of Sydney free of charge.

The City of Sydney has released another 8 licensed images, with 2 large-scale works installed on construction sites at York and Erskine streets in the city and Link Road in Zetland. 

The gardens we plant by artist Louise Zhang is inspired by market gardens and communal courtyards as spaces that provide nourishment and connection. 

Fitted on a site near Wynyard train station, Ms Zhang said it was magnificent to see her artwork at scale.

“We thrive with nature. Plants have importance in every culture, every religion and for every person in some way. We can’t live without them and that was why I wanted to put a garden in the city,” Ms Zhang said.

“The city can be a very busy, noisy, bustling space, so having a garden or greenery in the area not only helps with climate and shade, it helps the soul as well.”

”Through their eyesis co-created by junior players from the Redfern All Blacks rugby league football club through art workshops with Worimi and Bundjalung artist Taleena Simon. Taleena is also an accomplished player who represented the club and Australia.

The artwork represents the city as seen through the eyes of children. Footprints, travel symbols, wavy lines and dotted patterns illustrate the junior players and their journey through Gadigal country, capturing the landmarks and experiences that, to them, define the essence of their city.

“I’m so excited to see our artwork in public,” one junior player said. “My favourite thing about this artwork is the freedom of drawing and how I get to draw things with friends,” another contributing junior said.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the creative hoardings program was created in 2016 in response to community demand for more street art to enliven the streets of Sydney and bring creativity into the everyday.

“As our city continues to grow and evolve at pace, construction sites are common,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Rather than leaving the protective barriers on these worksites blank and drab, we have reimagined them as canvasses, providing opportunities for artists to showcase their work on a large scale and transforming construction sites with a splash of creativity.  

“The program is a real success story, with other cities in Australia and overseas inspired to try their own. Since its introduction, we’ve licensed 38 quality contemporary Australian artworks for use by developers on more than 521 hoardings across inner Sydney.”  

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES