For local artist Ping Carlyon, the working process of an art project is more meaningful than the finished piece.
“Any public art project is a chance for artists to be seen and to share their inspiration with people. Bringing art pieces into public areas means that the community doesn’t have to venture into art galleries or museums to have their own creativity sparked.”
The inspiration behind Fly into Art is the landscape and the people of our very own region here in Gladstone, from Tannum Sands to Yarwun.
“The colourful ribbons in the piece symbolize all the different immigrants that have come to call our region home over the years. We all live here and together we make this country so strong and colourful.”
Ping, who moved to Australia in 2007 after obtaining a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Taiwan, has always wanted to create a large-scale art project for the public.
“At six meters, the piece is very large. It doesn’t even fit in my house! Not only does a public space give me the room to create a bigger piece, it also helps me engage more with the community. The interaction from people stopping to say hello or messaging me on Facebook is always more important than the finished piece.
“I’d like to thank Gladstone Airport Corporation and The Regional Art Development Fund (RADF) for their support. The Regional Art Development Fund is a Queensland Government and Gladstone Regional Council partnership to support local arts and culture in Regional Queensland.
“I also have to thank my family for their constant support.”
Ping’s Fly into Art piece took seven and a half months to create, and a total of 388 hours of work.
The artwork will be on display at Gladstone Airport until the end of March. More photos and details of the project are available on Facebook: Fly into Art, and Instagram: flyintoart_.
Photos courtesy of Ping Carlyon.