RMIT student artwork brings State Library Victoria facade to life

RMIT student artwork brings State Library Victoria facade to life

Textile Design student Caro Pattle has transformed the Library’s entrance as part of the RMIT University and State Library joint initiative.

Twenty-two RMIT masters and undergraduate students across Architecture, Communication Design and Textile Design were invited to create original artworks that reflected the Library’s transformation as it undergoes its $88.1 million Vision 2020 redevelopment.

Alongside Pattle, a panel of judges from RMIT, the State Library and Creative Victoria also selected two works from students Vivian Lim (Architecture) and Nikita Castellano (Textile Design) to be installed on the construction hoarding.

Each design will be displayed for approximately 4 months while the Library’s entrance undergoes construction. 

Textile Design Students Caro Pattle and Nikita Castellano infront of Pattle's artwork, the first of the three selected RMIT design students to have their artwork displayed at State Library Victoria. Textile Design Students Caro Pattle and Nikita Castellano infront of Pattle's artwork, the first of the three selected students to have their artwork displayed

Spanning 27 metres, Pattle’s design was inspired by the library’s collection, botanical drawings and lithographic prints.

“The State Library has always been a site of change and I wanted my design to reflect this,” said Pattle.

“I took inspiration from artefacts in the Library’s collection and imagined how they might look in the future.”

Titled “Transformations”, Pattle’s design is a collage of 15th to 19th century botanic imagery, imagined creatures and flowers with QR-coded petals.

Pattle was blown away after seeing her design unveiled this morning,

“It was pretty surreal to see my artwork transform from my computer screen on to one of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings,” she said.

RMIT Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Design and Social Context Professor Paul Gough said the initiative was an exciting opportunity for students to translate what they have learnt in the classroom on to a real-life project.

"We thank the State Library team for working with the students to grow their professional understanding and skills and creating the opportunity to display these three thought-provoking artworks,” Gough said.

“RMIT commends the 22 students involved and congratulates the three winning artists.”

State Library Victoria CEO Kate Torney praised the students involved for their high-quality designs, impressed by each artist’s unique response to the brief.

“More than a third of the Library’s visitors are university students, so it’s been fantastic collaborating with RMIT to showcase the creations of its talented students to the public,” said Torney.

“The Library has been a place of inspiration for many students over many generations, and these beautiful artworks will inspire the thousands of people who sit on our lawn or walk past the Library every day.”

Pattle’s design can be viewed at the State Library of Victoria main entrance. 

Story: Maddy Pattison 

16 October 2018

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16 October 2018

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RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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