Public art commissions are, most often, complex in nature. While location and budget are predetermined, the subject, form, graphic expression, scale, materials, nuance—and reason for being—always benefit from interrogation. Commissioned in 2020 and completed in 2023, Nest is perched precariously seven metres up a facade, between two apartments of a multi-residential building on Pakington Street, St. Kilda. Its position identifies the main pedestrian entrance.
The name Nest has several references. Great inspiration was found throughout the research process. In particular, from the elegant knitted reed eel nets and fishing baskets of the land's traditional owners, the Boon Wurrung people. The wire forms sparked the design process and informed the final form. Starting with the smooth shape of river rock, to be 3D scanned, extruded and manipulated, the mesh generated from the scanning process was enlarged and redrawn to create the 3.5-metre form. The sculpture has two opening pointing points at the front and the back. The lightness of the form is created by bent steel, enabling the rigidity of the shape to hang delicately from the facade while not obstructing views from the top-level apartments.
Nest, Pakington Street, St.Kilda
Boon Wurrung country
Creative Direction Matthew McCarthy
Design Matthew McCarthy and Dayna Stiles
Fabrication Sculpture Co
Photography by Tom Roe
