This playful and bold ground artwork attempts to reflect on our connection to nature as we go about our lives in a heavily urbanised and concrete and asphalt covered world.
The artwork is also about how the places we live in were in the past, and how they could be in the future.
The ‘contour lines’ reference the topography of the land as a 1:1 scale map that we walk through. A compass is used as a simple practical guide in direction and navigating the city, with the sun and moons represented to show the passing of days and months. There are references to the local flowers of tea tree and eucalyptus, local ladybugs and dragonflies, and magpie feathers.
I hope people find unexpected games within the design too, whether jumping from flower to flower, following a dot track or exploring the compass.
Location of artwork
- Parkview Reserve, Ayr Street South, East Doncaster, VIC 3108
- Map: View on map
About the artist
Tom Civil is an artist, muralist, community art facilitator and printmaker.
Tom has been making art in the streets of Melbourne for over 18 years, and has painted over 30 commissioned murals across town in the last ten years.
Tom's ground artworks reference through the language of mapping and symbology, our connection to nature in a heavily urbanised and concrete and asphalt covered world. The ground artworks also allow us to day-dream about how the places we live were in the past, and how they could be in the future. They also create fun interactive play moments in our daily lives.
Learn more about Tom Civil
- Website - Tom Civil
- Instagram - @thomascivilian
