Home is where the art is

Step into the lobby of Home Southbank, and a mysterious sight greets you. 10,000 pieces of unglazed handcrafted ceramic are suspended from the ceiling, casting ethereal light that shifts and evolves throughout the day.

The piece, ‘Float’, is by UK-born, international artist Jennifer Conroy-Smith – and was commissioned by Home and curatorial collaborator Craft specifically for Home Southbank. It’s just one example of the many Australian artworks that populate the space, offering residents the opportunity to engage with compelling and exciting pieces by local artists in their everyday life – not just when they visit a gallery.

The works are a part of the Home Art Collection, a broader project that will curate an array of Australian artworks throughout each of Home’s locations around the country. Developed by the Home team and Craft, the Home Art Collection is made up of both emerging and established Australian artists and features diverse stories and perspectives through various mediums – all commissioned or acquired by Home. The goal is to grow the collection over time as an acknowledgement of the role art and creativity play in supporting residents’ happiness, health and wellbeing.

“It’s pretty special to be able to share the place you live with works like this – to feel proud of being connected to the cultural life of your space.”

It’s no secret that Australians care deeply about art. Each year, more people visit exhibitions than attend football matches (11 million versus 10 million people, respectively).

“Art is a great connector. It’s a reflection of our communities,” says Sarah Weston – curator and creative development and partnerships manager at Craft. “It opens our eyes to different perspectives and ideas.”

According to Weston, the goal when establishing the collection was simple. “We thought about the impact of art in changing the way we live our lives – and the spaces in which we live – for the better.”

To achieve that goal, Home’s curatorial mission focused on Australian artists to acknowledge locality but also create spaces that foster engagement and curiosity. It’s a commitment to uplifting Australian art that Home will continue into the future, with forthcoming Home locations already developing their own collections.

Knowing that much of our art strategy would focus on diverse perspectives meant representation of First Peoples artists was a key component of our approach to building the Home art collection.

At Home Southbank, you’ll discover ‘Creatures of the Swamp’ by Northern Territory, Southern Arnhem Land First Peoples artist Edward Blitner (Taiita) from the Ngukurr Community (now called Yugul Mangi) in Naiyarlindji country on the Roper River. The beautiful work uses a highly intricate style of cross-hatching, known as rarrk, to create depth and texture.

In Home Richmond, you’ll find work by Jarra Karalinar Steel of the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boonwurrung, Wemba Wemba, Pairrebeenne/Trawlwoolway with lines to the Barrup Barrup clans. A multidisciplinary artist, Steel recently curated Rising’s 2022 art tram program.

“We wanted to honour those incredible connections and stories – these ways of making and knowing – that have existed for millennia,” says Weston. “It’s something we talked about extensively.”

When forming our collection, we carefully considered the way in which works interact with their location (and one another). “There’s very much a response to the architecture of the buildings and the way residents engage with the space,” Weston says.

For example, the Home Richmond lobby houses two digital artworks. One by First Peoples artist Nioka Briggs (Yorta Yorta) – her first video piece. It’s a reflection on landscape and Country, depicting the slow transition of light and reverberating with the sounds of birds and water. This piece stands in dialogue with a hyperreal work by digital artist Sam Price that examines the progression of technology in art. “It’s one of my favourite parts of Richmond,” says Weston. “It’s a really interesting juxtaposition.”

As Home’s locations continue to grow, so will the Home Art Collection. This approach is closely linked to Home’s overall commitment to Australian makers of all kinds, allowing us to showcase, celebrate and support our country’s creative minds.

“Home is committed to supporting Australian artists and makers. We have such incredible talent here, and it’s really important to create ongoing opportunities for artists – to connect them and their work with new audiences,” Weston says. “It’s pretty special to be able to share the place you live with works like this – to feel proud of being connected to the cultural life of your space.”

This cultural dialogue between Home and art is one we invite residents to participate in, too.

Home will offer curated artist talks and events inbuilding, as well as provide tips on how you can start your own collections. In the future, each building’s artworks will periodically be loaned between properties – offering, say, those who live in Parramatta an insight into the works that hang in Southbank (and vice versa).

These kinds of unexpected discoveries are a core tenant of Home’s curatorial approach, allowing residents to be moved, surprised – or even just entertained – by the art of their Home.

Book a tour of Home now to explore the Home Art Collection in person.