Melbourne art pond opens to public

Pond[er], the winner of the NGV’s 2021 Architecture Commission, has opened to the public in the Grollo Equiset Garden, bringing the pastel hues of Australia’s inland salt lakes to Melbourne’s bustling civic spaces.

To achieve its intended pink tint, architectural firm Taylor Knights collaborated with a cork and access flooring supplier to create custom colours that mirror the hues found in the country’s iconic salt lakes.

“The main lighting of the installation is a recessed LED around its edge, defining the square and reinforcing the design reference of Sir Roy Ground’s open-air original courtyards,” says company director Peter Knights.

The 21.5 x 11.5-metre, 200mm deep public art project is designed to highlight the scarcity, importance and political implications of water as a natural resource.

“The striking beauty of Australia’s inland salt lakes inspired the creation of a space to stop, reflect and think about our current ecological adversities,” says director James Taylor.

“As architects, designers and artists, we have a fundamental responsibility to encourage our communities to begin to live, work and play in very different ways.”

Pond[er] will be on display until 28 October 2022 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Free entry.

CAPTION: Pink is an unusual colour for water, but it exists in Australia’s natural salt lakes. Image: Taylor Knights and James Carey