The Passenger

Another of Cezary Stulgis' commissioned works is at 540 Queen Street. Entitled The Passenger it was sculpted in 2003. Created from welded mild steel with a stainless steel background, the represented figure to me is your classic everyman riding the train either too or from work. On closer inspection, you find that it is actually an original Brisbane City Council bus window which has been used.

Located on Queen Street at the base of Willahra Tower, I can only begin to imagine how many people either drive or walk past this figure each work day. I bet if they're feeling a little blue from sitting in traffic they think, "Well, at least I'm not standing on a bus/train like that guy!" The furrowed brow, slightly pursed lips, and well worn suitcase suggest a man well travelled - although we're left to ponder if this is another of life's circuitous journeys, or a different path to another adventure again. I'm also reminded of the song about apartheid, Passengers, by Elton John from the 80's everytime I see this work.

David, over at Brisbane is Home has already featured this particular sculpture. Its great to see that I'm not the only one appreciating these fine works of art throughout our great city. I can't help but quote Cezary again by taking these words from his own site... "As public art, figurative sculpture is a truly magnificent way of embracing our humanity and reflecting upon our culture."

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Dialogue

If you've ever been stuck for conversation, perhaps you would be wise to study the sculpture known as Dialogue located outside Macarthur Chambers on Queen Street. Made of cast bronze with a granite plate, it features two figures - a man and a woman - poised at a particular point of conversation. It was commissioned in 2004, and sculpted by Cezary Stulgis.


This would be one of the most prominent pieces of public art in the city. On the Post Office side of the street, it is across the road from one of Cezary's other works, the Overseer. Depending on the angle you view the piece, the conversation could be interpreted as many things: indifference by the man and defensive by the female; the woman waits, anticipating the conversation as the man prepares his seduction; or an air of misgiving hanging over both, that this may be the last dialogue they have.

I am rapidly becoming a fan of Cezary's work. I love the way he captures the human form, in all its frailty and magnificence. The beauty of the forms, in particularly the heads and faces, I find are done in such a way that I can admire the skill in which they have rendered, but to which I can apply my own interpretation. By this I mean that they are not so perfectly rendered that you only see one form. For me, I see many, and that's why I love these works.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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The Overseer

If you ever eat at the Post Office Square food court, chances are you've seen this particular gentleman looking over you. Another of the artworks by Cezary Stulgis, The Overseer looks down upon the daily populace of Brisbane as they pass by below. Made of mild steel, and sitting nearly 2 metres high, The Overseer is perched at 300 Queen Street.

Installed in 2003, this was a commissioned work. The intricacies of the design show the expertise with which this sculpture was created. From his own site, I note that Cezary's technical skills include "monument, kinetic, figurative, ceramic, model making as well as fabrication steel, stainless steel sculptures. Cezary has been producing fine art plus mural design and paintings for at least 10 years".

I'm glad that through public work like this we get to experience the sculpture of someone who is a master. Brisbane is fortunate to have work from artists of this calibre on public display within the city. This representation of the human form is exquisite. From both side on and front on, the posture and the way it is captured. Were he real, I wonder what he would be pondering. From his pose I hope it is simply "Relax and Chill!"

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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Perkin's Stables

Although this artwork, Perkin's Stables, looks like it is indoors, it actually is quite close to the footpath on Mary Street, and confronts you as you walk down the street. It is at the entrance to Quest River Park Central, located between Edward & Albert Streets, at 120 Mary Street. It was created by artist Cezary Stulgis, and installed in January of 2004.

From the plaque at the site, it describes a drawing of workers at The Perkins (Brewery) Stables located at the site of the current building, but circa 1900. The artist drew his inspiration from a photograph in a daily newspaper of the time. The Perkins Stables acted as the transport division for the brewery, which was located directly across the street. A fire destroyed the Perkins Brewery in 1935, however the stables building remained (in a modified form) on the site until the apartment block was built in 2004.

Made of welded mild steel, sheet and rod, with a red polyurethane coating, it is hard not to notice this art. I'm glad its not hidden away behind the glass doors of the apartments. Cezary has a number of other artworks around Brisbane, which I hope to include in these pages over the course of the year. Next to the artwork is also a memorial plaque to John Mangano, a young man taken before his time, who worked on the new buildings development.

Cheers, I Love Brisbane, Wes.

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