23 February 2024
The very imposing memorial to Queen Victoria in the Alexandra gardens, which was splashed with red paint by activists on Australia Day, is cleaned up now but some red still visible. I think it’s very grand, lots of nice sculpture, columns etc, and set on its own small hill with flower beds and ponds below. Its all quite huge actually, and took ages to make following her death in 1901, not unveiled until 1907, amid some controversy – the sculptor James White from Sydney was so criticised for having the work done in Italy, and for it not being a good likeness, that it ended his career (she does look rather dour and dumpy, pretty accurate I think, plus much like his earlier version in Bendigo, last 2 pics). The four female figures represent Wisdom Progress History and Justice, and some have lost arms or legs sadly. She used to be visible from St Kilda Road, but the trees now obscure that view. 2nd photo the Guardian.
27 September 2024, photos February
I’m not so much a fan of angly 60s art, but this this 1973 sculpture called The Genie by Tom Bass in the Queen Victoria Gardens is fun, or at least, it’s smiling. Not what I thought a genie should look like. Photo from February.
Storey of Melbourne 