Story by Brigid O’Connell and photos by Jay Town, Herald Sun
Victorian artists are needed to make their mark as part of a public art trail celebrating The Royal Children’s Hospital’s 150th anniversary. The event is slated to be one of the state’s largest public art events in 2020.
Artist submissions are now open at uoouoo.org.au
It takes a certain type of creative flair and tongue-out-in-concentration to produce a sculpture worthy of public applause.
Coco Leggett, 5, knows this well and as she puts the finishing touches to her art work while undergoing cancer treatment at The Royal Children’s Hospital, the call-out has been sounded to other Victorian artists keen to make their mark during the hospital’s 150th anniversary year.
The RCH Foundation is looking for 100 Victorian-based artists to each customise a UooUoo creature; a mythical being pronounced “you you”, conjured by renowned Melbourne artist Alexander Knox.
Knox designed The Creature, the iconic five-storey moving sculpture in the RCH’s Main Street.
“It can be traditional or new media, fine art, illustrations, graffiti — whatever form they want to work in,” said Ms Hunt.
The sculptures will be on display along Melbourne and Geelong streets, parks and laneways from September next year until the end of November.
They will then be farewelled at an auction where the public can buy their own UooUoo to take home, with all proceeds going towards the hospital.
“There are lots of events happening next year as we celebrate 150 years, but this is the one big event that will place the hospital out into the streets of Melbourne,” Ms Hunt said. “The community will be able to see our worldly hospital as we prepare for a brighter future.”
Artist submissions are now open at uoouoo.org.au