See an inspiring display of 20 live finches fly about an aviary at Queensland Museum to celebrate Brisbane Festival. You can also take a step back in time and get an extraordinary insight into John and Elizabeth Gould’s The Birds of Australia, a book not usually seen as a part of the museum’s rare book collection. Make sure you visit during the Festival.
4–26 Sept
Messengers of Brisbane
Florentijn Hofman’s new work large scale public art project, inspired by Australian native bird, the Gouldian Finch, offering messages of hope to the people of Brisbane.
Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre present
Florentijn Hofman (NL)
In September we will create a workshop activation closely located to our South Bank inflatable Finches. We will supply a family of Gouldian Finches and nests to cut, fold, colour and weave with new designs, and existing offerings from our online activities. A space is kept on the breast of one bird to encourage small messages of hope, written as a collective expression of a future we can achieve by looking after all creatures, and each other. A message could be ‘What we can do to help the Gouldian Finch? or ‘What have we learnt from our time in our nests at home?’
Anyone can create a new bird onsite in a workshop space to take home or add into an overhead installation of flocking finches collectively bringing colour, movement and connection to our festival and South Bank Parklands.
Additionally, fabulous bright and bold postcards of Florentijn’s finches will be available in key locations within South Bank for further engagement with our local and broader communities.
Check out the worshop below.
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#Finchy Fun Workshops
Come to Flowstate at Southbank for creative finchy fun at our Messengers of Brisbane workshops.
Collect a postcard, join the free craft activities under our giant Gouldian Finch and take your art home to enjoy.
Simply drop in at one of the below times!
Collage Creation
Sat 19 Sept & Wed 23 Sept
10am, 11am, 12pm
45min sessions
Avian Art
Sun 20 Sept & Thu 24 Sept
10am, 11am, 12pm
45min sessions
Flying Finch & Party Hats
Mon 21 Sept & Fri 25 Sept
10am, 11am, 12pm
45min sessions
Winged Wonder
Tue 22 Sept & Sat 26 Sept
10am, 11am, 12pm
45min sessions
#Creative Activity Sheets
Download the Messengers of Brisbane activity sheets for finchy fun at home!
Avian Art
Materials needed:
String, scissors, tape, glue, paper
Collage Creation
Materials needed:
Glue, paper, printer, scissors, old magazines, sticks, leaves, other found objects
Flying Finch
Materials needed:
Paper, printer
Geometric Generosity
Materials needed:
Glue, paper, printer, scissors
Party Time
Materials needed:
Printer, paper, scissors, string
Potato Press
Materials needed:
Potatoes, knife, paintbrush, fabric, paper
Winged Wonder
Materials needed:
Printer, paper, glue, cardboard, scissors
#Finches at Queensland Museum
#International works by Florentijn Hofman
#Artist's Statement
Although conceived prior to the global Coronavirus outbreak, the artwork I am proposing for Brisbane Festival – Messengers of Brisbane – may be prophetic in its timing. This work breathes hope: hope for better days during the Festival and into the future.
The distance of the works on rooftops and other high positions indicate aspiration and at the same time question our current situation of social distancing and what freedom means to every individual. The works gift aim and direction in a time where creativity is paramount and the power of imagination must be relied upon to feel a flight synonymous to the bird. The beautiful bright colours – which mimic exactly those found in the natural plume of the Gouldian Finch – encourage people to likewise be colourful, to be amazed by these remarkable creatures. The hat is a very important feature in this work. It is an extension of my practice where I’ve used it as a tool in many prior works. For me it symbolises celebrating life, enjoying living and being positive, especially during this period but it is also appropriate to all life situations. Being positive makes one live longer and with more quality. While birds in nature are very autonomous, here as large-scale temporary sculptures in Brisbane they will indicate connection and the arrival of a positive message.
#Artist
Florentijn Hofman
Humour, sensation, maximum impact; internationally renowned artist Florentijn Hofman does not settle for less.