Naarm | Melbourne

Melbourne: Many Pieces and Layers, One Canvas
Some cities can be defined by a single landmark — Sydney by the Opera House,
Paris by the Eiffel Tower, New York by the Statue of Liberty. But Melbourne
resists such simplification. It is layered, complex, and experienced differently
by each person who calls it home. Ask ten people what makes Melbourne
iconic and you may well receive twenty different answers.
This painting embraces that complexity. At its heart lies the Yarra River,
winding through the city before flowing into Port Phillip Bay, with surrounding
suburbs branching outward. Across the canvas are more than 150 icons:
heritage architecture from the gold rush through to contemporary towers,

celebrated sporting arenas, a thriving arts and theatre culture, and the ever-
present food scene that defines Melbourne’s laneways and markets. Generous

pockets of green space, from the Royal Botanic Gardens to suburban
parklands, are woven into the city’s fabric. Distinctive elements like the world’s
largest tram network and Melbourne’s quirky road signs also find their place,
alongside references to street art and cultural festivals.
The natural world is just as present. Weedy sea dragons, migrating southern
right whales, and the ubiquitous possums of Melbourne’s gardens share the
stage with nine bird species — from little penguins to peregrine falcons — each
carrying its own story of the city.
The result is my most ambitious and detailed work to date — a Birdseye
Melbourne that cannot be reduced to a single symbol, but instead celebrates
the many layers, stories, and identities that make this city unique.