Footprints on Gadigal Nura, 2024
Artist: Nicole Monks
Location: Waterloo Metro Station
The Gadigal have walked this Country since time immemorial, their footprints continuously touching the earth alongside Waterloo Station’s Botany Road. Originally established as a thoroughfare for First Nations people, this road remains a vital connection across time, space, place, and humanity. The footprints of the past, present, and future walk together.
The installation comprises of three major artworks:
Site A - Street Level: A 25m wide by 5m tall lenticular wall, made up of V shaped aluminium extrusions with nickel plated finish depicting handwriting by Elders embodying the title ‘Footprints on Gadigal Nura.’ A challenge for this installation was the design and fitting of three large invisible service doors with hairline joins within the artwork.
Site B - Escalators: A 23m by 17m tall wall acted as a canvas for 1000 individual cast aluminium feet in gold and silver plated finish. Depicting historic pathways marking locally significant sites and walking trails. Developed in a workshop with Community.
Site C - Concourse: 9.7 x 9.7 custom perforated aluminium panels depicting young dancer Roscoe standing proud and welcoming, created with Brolga Dance Academy and Aboriginal photographer, Wayne Quilliam. The challenge here was to provide a high-resolution solution for an ordinary metal punching process.
