Plant Form

Plant Form is a large steel sculpture located on the riverfront within the City Botanical Gardens. Brisbane City Council purchased the piece after the finish of World Expo 1988 and relocated it to this position within the gardens. Created by Robert Juniper, it stands over four metres tall and is an imposing artwork on the riverwalk. The easiest way to locate the artwork is to enter the gardens via the Alice and Edward Street entrance and proceed along the river.

Born in Merredin, Western Australia in 1929, Robert Juniper is considered one of Australia's most renowned painters, sculptors and printmakers. He is acknowledged as a major figure in Australian landscape painting, and he has also been honoured by the Western Australian government as a 'Living Treasure'. He's even been on Burke's Backyard! He studied commercial art and industrial design at Beckenham School of Art, England before returning to Western Australia in 1948 where he painted, taught and exhibited from the early 1950s. In the 1980s he investigated other artistic avenues, including stained glass and metal sculpture like the work presented here. He has won numerous awards with individual and group collections presented worldwide.

In researching Robert, I found reference that most of his sculptures are made from bits and pieces of rusty steel he finds in old deserted gold mining towns and dumps, and then welds together. This seems to fit this mold perfectly. I feel like this work is perfectly located. To me, the leaf elements of the work look like boat anchors, so the juxtaposition with the yachts on the river works beautifully. In a similar vein the same juxtaposition with the garden backdrop behind the piece works just as well due to the "plant" nature of the sculpture. Good planning, or just good luck? Who cares, it sure is striking!

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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