Three Businessman who Brought Their Own Lunch; Batman, Swanston and Hoddle Classification: Design
Standing on the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets, right in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District, this sculpture consists of three separate life-size statues, each an abstract representation of a businessman. Accompanying the artwork is an inscription that reads: ‘”Three Businessman who brought their own lunch: Batman, Swanston and Hoddle” was unveiled on 20 April 1994by his Excellency, the President of Nauru Hon. Bernard Dowiyoga M.P. A gift celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the City of Melbourne from the people and Government of Nauru.’ The sculpture was commissioned in 1993 as part of the Swanston Street Art Works Program, an innovation that set out to recognise and exhibit Melbourne’s immense artistic culture, and has become perhaps one of Melbourne’s most well-known and popular examples of public art. ‘Three Businessmen’ was designed and sculptured by artists Alison Weaver and Paul Quinn, and, as the inscription reads, was unveiled in 1994 as a gift from the government of Nauru in celebration of the City of Melbourne’s 150th anniversary. The sculpture has stood at the crossing of Bourke and Swanston streets for over 15 years, yet has remained one of the City’s most popular and recognisable artworks, perhaps due to its continuing relevance and meaning in society. ‘Three Businessmen’ simultaneously pays homage to the founding figures of Melbourne (Charles Swanston, John Batman and Robert Hoddle) and comments on society, in particular Melbourne’s business and economic culture. Alison Weaver, one of the designers of the sculpture, has commented on the piece, saying that the artwork is attaching negative connotations to the CBD’s immense business and economic culture. The ambiguity and abstraction of the three figure’s faces renders them somewhat unrecognizable; faceless. Their skinny, misshapen bodies and bald heads mean that it is difficult to distinguish whether they are in fact male or female. Their facial expressions; wide eyes and open mouths, may be perceived to be expressions of shock and fear. This perception indicates that the figures are overwhelmed in their environment. It signifies that ‘Three Businessmen’ is contesting Melbourne’s business and economic culture, saying that the value of the individual is being overlooked in the plight for economic and business growth and success. On the other hand, the artwork may be, an often is, read in an entirely different way. Reading the inscription, the three figures can be seen to represent each of the founding figures of
Melbourne, Batman, Swanston and Hoddle. Their wide eyes and open mouths indicate wonder and enjoyment. This perception indicates that the three figures are perhaps the ‘ghosts’ of these men, returning to the city and taking in its impressive growth and development. The fact is; neither of these perceptions (or any other for that matter) is any less true than the other. What makes public art so successful is the ability of its meaning to change and adapt over the years, relevant to society’s temporal values. These meanings, although different to the artist’s original intentions, are of no less value or significance.
References Secondary Source#1 (Scholarly from a Cultural Studies perspective)
1. Phillips, P.C, 1992 ‘Temporality in Public Art’ in Critical Issues in Public Art: Content, Context and Controversy, Ed. H.F. Senie and Webster, Westview Press, Boulder, CO, pp.295304. Secondary Source#2 (Non-scholarly)
2. GlobeVista 2007, Three Businessmen Who Brought their own Lunch: Batman, Swanston and Hoddle, viewed 16th April 2010, <http://www.publicartaroundtheworld.com/Three_Businessmen_who_brought_their_own_lunc h_Batman,_Swanston_and_Hoddle.html> Secondary Source #3 (Scholarly)
3. Lacy, S. 2008, ‘Time in Place: New Genre Public Art a Decade Later’ in The Practice of Public Art, Ed. C. Cartiere & S. Willis, Routledge, New York, pp. 18-3
Flinders Street Station
Flinders street station has been a part of Melbourne since 1854. It’s located on the intersection of Swanston and Flinders street. In 1880, the building was told that the plans were inadequate. So in 1899, a competition was held for the design of Station Designs and it’s possible approaches. Out of the many architects who were in this competition, the winners were James Fawcett and HPC
Ashworth of the Railway Department. Upon the completion of the Station P.Rodger took over the project and it ended in 1910. The structure of the station is still intact, which is quite surprising because it was built in the 1900’s. The Station is placed in a very strategic area; it is on the southern boundary of the city’s grid. The station holds a very important position; it represents the importance of the railway station. The Station is a major landmark building of the city and the state. The Station is the most commonly used spaces in Melbourne, the newer Australian generation in Melbourne use the station as a meeting place. Before the City Loop was constructed the Station was popular to workers and shoppers who liked to enter the city. The Station was also a place where public events were held, and it still held till today. The Station has numerous rooms available for clubs, functions and meetings this emphasizes the magnitude of the Stations social significance. The station initial plans had three stories high and by the end of the project there were five stories. The main entrance which is angled across the intersection of Swanston and Flinders Street, there are five clocks that hangs at the entrance and they are original clocks. The station is more than the length city block and includes offices, station facilities and platforms. The architecture of the Flinders Street Station was influenced by the Edwardian Baroque; it is a reference to the Neo- Baroque architectural style of the many public buildings that were being built in the British Empire. The composition of the Station symbolizes the splendor and majesty of the British Empire. The structure could be compared to the Indian colonial monuments of that time. On the surface of the structure there are long red bricks, it is a rendition of bandages and there is also a clock tower which ends on the north of Queens Street. The arch that is in the entrance of the station is a combination of Baroque and ‘blood and bandage’ which is also known as red brick and cement. Flinders Street Station has a very close resemblance to the railway stations in Bombay (now Mumbai) and Calcutta which is situated in India. The Station was rather advance during the 1910’s, there is a dining and refreshment room on the first floor and the former Victorian Railway Institute rooms are on the third floor. The Station has a massive space which works well for the 20th Century with having more trains and social meeting areas. The trains started to arrive in 1854, and till today there is not one single building that resembles the Station. The Flinders Street Station is considered a masterpiece that was derived from the Edwardian Baroque era. The platform has been through many modifications, such as adding access ramps and the area beneath the iron trussed sheds have been subject to numerous refurbishments.
References Philip Goad & Katrina Place 2002, A Short Story Of Melbourne Architecture, Pesaro Publishing, Sydney Australia. Philip Goad Page 88, Melbourne Architecture 2001 by the Watermark Press Sydney Australia
RMIT Building 8
RMIT building 8 is a multi level education exchange, it contains the university library, an enlarged student union, the faculty of design, construction and the departments of fashion and mathematics .which located in Swanston street Melbourne city and was designed by architect Edmond and Corrigan Pty Ltd in association with the Delaine Partnership Pty Ltd. With its extraordinary architect design, building 8 become one of the land mark of the Melbourne city, also changed the people’s perception of the Melbourne city. It is widely recognized nationally as being distinctively Melbourne in character and idea. The building engages the idea of uniting opposites, so it demurs to the Melbourne built past. Front, side and rear elevations of the building create a whole from fragments and a collage of design idea, which apparently presents its unique to the city. This building was an outstanding triumphant. In this chapter there are 3 parts of issue, which are discussed - the university, symbolic capital and building 8 survey. Dean Van Schaik wrote about the new building “Building 8 means a lot to RMIT. Its construction was an affirmation that RMIT was determined to be a university in the heart of the city; its successful completion signaled the way in which RMIT intended to address its facilities' needs; and it was the first physical manifestation of RMIT's mission as an international university " [van Schaik 1996]. The architect became internationally recognized reputation for design by right of this great work.Building 8 was builds a culture of excellence architecture. They use local architects; it has carved both a formidable physical presence. Professor tom Kvan recognizes that the building will help brand and promote the university itself. “It does mark a revitalization of campus” he says. “The university is stepping up and
saying we want to make our campus an invigorated place as well, along the same aspirations as a sustainable livable city. [Norman day, september1, 2003, doing it his way, the age.] It complies with the school’s mission, which stated as being at forefront of technological innovation, and of excellence in graduate outcomes. Moreover, considering how the identity strategy has worked out for RMIT. Since the building is located in the central business district of the city, next to the centre of the transport network which makes it more accessible for students. In my opinion, RMIT building is really fantastic design, each side and such a small details are make people feel interesting. It has revealed RMIT University’s distinguishing feature. References [Arguments in architecture, September 11, 2009 arts, enterainment, the age.] [ Building 8, RMIT University school of Architecture& Design, D.Evans, Symbolic Ecchange in the Filed of Architectural Production] [Building8, Edmond&Corrigan at RMIT VOL.1 10 Essays, Swanston Library Reserve Colection.] Poster for the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
The communication artifact is a poster designed for the Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and it is published in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Booklet this year, which classified as the “Design” of professional areas. As the airport is a place where brings people from different countries together and make them associate with our place, the poster is purposely printed on the booklet for this international art event in Melbourne. It has
maintained to promote the city to world with those very strong but simple image, logo and texts have shown. The Poster helps promoting our culture and representation to the world. It published in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival can advertise and communicate to the world about Melbourne while the festival is promoting international culture to Australia.
From the first non-scholarly secondary source of the book “Why It Sells” by author, Marcel Danesi in 2008, which mainly a guide to decoding the messages woven into the advertisements, commercials, brand names, and logos we see on a daily basis. The chapter that I have found has mentioned and focused about how current advertising works with product and media in culture and how it makes impacts in the society. Marcel has mentioned in the chapter that advertising is always an advantage on the economic of a society but the relationship between the modern advertising and people and the communication has changed through the years as at the same time, the social effects that advertising made is changing the world differently. It supports that the impacts and intention why the poster is well designed with recognizable logo printed for the Melbourne Airport published in an international event booklet.
In addition to this, “Information Communication Technologies and City/Marketing: Digital Opportunities for cities around the world: by Mila Gasco-Hernandez and Teresa TorresCoronas, the scholarly secondary source, has concerned in the chapter of “Why City Branding” that being a big city is important to be branded in both advertising and design perspectives, because cities have in the increasingly global and networked world found themselves in competition with the other cities, and these competitions often occur in the areas such as government funding and internationally in tourism. It helps the economy of a city and the building of a strong city brand in the world. The chapter has also provided a detailed statement of building a brand for a city to increase both the economy and the position in the world. It supports the importance of a city being promoted to be strong. However, it does not mention my chosen artifact about how media and communication build and brand a strong city to promote to the entire world.
The book “Introduction to Mass Communication: Media Literacy and Culture” by Stanley J.Baran, the third secondary source is focusing on analyzing the history and the current status in the society of mass media such as magazines, television, radio, newspaper and books in a media perspective and it mentions my selected artifact and that mass media is powerful to make impact to both society and the culture.
References Secondary Source#1 (Non-Scholarly): Marcel Danesi 2008, Why It Sells, pp.175-194
Secondary Source#2 (Scholarly): Mila Gasco-Hernandez & Teresa Torres-Coronas, Information Communication Technologies and City Marketing: Digital Opportunities for Cities Around the World, pp.266-271
Secondary Source#3 (Scholarly from a Media perspective): Stanley J.Baran, Introduction to Mass Communication: Media Literacy and Culture, pp.131-155