13 November 2019

Art Meets Architecture and opens new spaces in a creative city

| Karyn Starmer
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Tommy Balogh

‘Revelation’ by Canberra artist Tommy Balogh at BDA Interiors, Manuka. Photos: Supplied.

In a city with a growing interest in public art and no shortage of new commercial and private property, Canberra-based artist Tommy Balogh is erasing the border between art and architecture.

Tommy’s vision is to transform public spaces by incorporating artwork in the city’s foyers, hotels and other large buildings.

His work is striking. Using Plexiglas and vibrant colour and light, the shapes in his work appear as living, breathing, dissolving structures.

His interactive work ‘Dare to Dream’ is currently installed on the ground floor walls of the Citywest Car Park on Marcus Clarke Street in Civic.

“My aim is to create spaces away from the noise of everyday life. The work creates a different type of energy. It quietens you but at the same time, I hope that it promotes a different type of thinking. Ultimately when you see it, there is a moment where it creates a positive joy, just like when you see fireflies for the first time,” Tommy said.

Tommy Balogh is set to spread his vision across Canberra with two more installations – the next in Manuka and a further ambitious project in Turner.

The Revelation exhibition opens on Friday, 14 November at BDA Interiors, Manuka. The works on display will feature more explosions of colour.

BDA Interiors Director, Bronwyn Blue says, “Tommy’s work provokes an emotional reaction when you see it. The longer you look the more you feel. This style of work may not be for everyone but art starts conversations and large-scale projects like Tommy’s are relevant in the ACT right now at a time of urban renewal. People want art in public spaces.”

The work in Turner, ‘Odyssey’, for Exempla group’s latest development, will stand two-storeys tall in the foyer of the new Forbes + Turner residences. Tommy hopes his piece is going to change the face of public art in Canberra. He had his audience firmly in mind when creating this artwork for the space.

“I wanted to create a flagship, monolithic, front and backlit artwork. Through this, people will always see something different. The artwork is fluid and varying and it will become an experience for everyone who sees it. It will be the first thing you see as you enter the building and the last thing you see when you leave. The facade is open so the public will be able to see it from the street, too.

“The architecture was considered around the artwork rather than it being an afterthought. In this building, the entrance was designed for the artwork to be the statement and to showcase two stories of continuous artwork. We really wanted to start some waves. A collaboration between the developer, architect and artist is uncommon but we took advantage of our visions being aligned which was an exciting opportunity for all of us,” Tommy said.

Revelation will be presented by BDA Interiors at the opening of Art Meets Architecture and the launch of Forbes + Turner.

Event Details

What: Revelation by Tommy Balogh / Forbes + Turner Residences
Date: Thursday, 14 November 2019
Time: 5:30 pm to 8 pm
Where: BDA Interiors, Manuka.
Cost: Free

For more information on the launch, please visit the event page. Learn more about Canberra artist Tommy Balogh at his website.

The entrance to Forbes + Turner was designed for the artwork to be the statement.

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