What is not immediately obvious from the exterior of the Lynwood SHS is the rich cultural diversity of the student cohort, generated from the coalescing of 65 different nationalities. This aspect of the school presented a conceptual opportunity to create meaningful artworks that resonate with the students, parents, and staff, and seamlessly integrate into the new buildings for Lynwood SHS.

The artworks are inspired by individual and collective narratives articulated through a series of abstract, patterned and illuminated linear elements on the PAC façade, that connect with a printed pattern on the soffit of the forecourt. The patterns are intended as metaphors for the cultural diversity within Lynwood SHS.

The artworks are located in two different spaces:

Patterns of Identity #I, integrated, illuminated patterned panels into the façade of the school’s new Performing Art Centre (PAC). that hint at, or are suggestive of, something layered, or just beneath the surface. The depth of this surface allusion is only fully revealed during nocturnal illumination.

Patterns of Identity #II, presents a large-scale printed design, in a softened rectangular shape, on the fibre cement soffit (ceiling) that encircles the void (hole) in the undercover courtyard, Metcalf Road entrance to the school, intended as a welcoming component in the space for the school community.The artwork patterns in both locations evolved from a series of workshops conducted by the artist with year 8-12 students. The focus of each workshop was to create abstract drawings based on individual student narratives about identity.

Design Process
5 workshops were conducted with Lynwood SHS students. Four sessions with x 2 Year 8 students and one extended voluntary workshop during Art Week was conducted for Year 8-12 students. 26 students attended the latter workshop.

The theme of Identity was used as the conceptual underpinning for the workshops, with some students responding with highly personal abstract imagery.The original student drawings were traced by the artist to ensure a smooth digitizing process. Once digitised, the drawings were photocopied in multiples onto acetate. This allowed the images to be easily manipulated prior to deciding which images worked best for each of the two artworks. Selection was based on scale, interest, and ambiguity and the potential to be applied to the format constraints and the industrial processes chosen for each artwork. The format for the façade artwork was more limiting than the soffit artwork, because of the dimensions, the layering of two discreet patterns, the illumination and need for day/night view, and the limits of industrial processes.

For a full understanding of the process please refer to the attached e-book pdf. read more... read less