COUNTERBALANCE

WALL WORK: arcylic on cement
2023, Commissioned by Queensland Rail, Meanjin (South Brisbane)

Brontë Naylor would like to acknowledge that this work is made on the unceded lands of the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples.
We acknowledge their continuing connection to the lands, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders, past and emerging.

ARTIST: Brontë Naylor
TITLE: COUNTERBALANCE
YEAR: 2023
MATERIAL: Acrylic on Rail Pillar
LOCATION:
, Height:10m
Width: 8 m

Image by: Luke Shirlaw

“I do believe that public art should be a space to explore the full range of the human condition, not just ‘easy’ parts. It is a testament to Queensland Rail to champion the artists practice without dilution.”

- BRONTË NAYLOR

PRESS RELEASE

‘Counter Balance’ artwork joins South Brisbane’s Pillars Project

A public artwork focusing on the shape of healing has joined a series of stunning paintings on concrete pillars underneath the South Brisbane rail overpass.

Queensland Rail Acting CEO Scott Riedel said the piece titled ‘Counter Balance’ by contemporary artist Bronte Naylor is all part of Queensland Rail’s Pillars Project which prides itself on creating opportunities for talented artists.

“It’s an honour to have Bronte Naylor’s art piece in this spectacular outdoor art gallery, joining other paintings by leading Australian street artists including Gimiks Born, Guido Van Helten, Matt Adnate and Fintan Magee which are brightening up the pillars at the South Brisbane end of Merivale Bridge,” Mr Riedel said.

“The series of artworks are 10 metres tall and can be viewed by residents and visitors from the Riverside Drive pathway through to Hope Street.

“Bronte’s art piece gives a complex message about mental health, a topic which has gained even more awareness as people navigate their way through the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The new artwork was painted with the help of a cherry picker over 12 days and Bronte used 10 litres of paint to perfect her creation.

“The Pillars Project is part of Queensland Rail’s Positive pARTnerships program which is about connecting with local artists to produce high quality art projects which beautify our stations and build community pride and ownership.

Artist Bronte Naylor said it has been a quiet goal of hers for some time to be invited to be part of the renowned project.

“I started painting public art in 2011 when I was at university studying Creative Industries in Cairns and I would come back home to the Brisbane area and see the pillar collection being furthered. It was an extremely distant reality for me at that time to be a part of a painting project like this.

“The mural is about capturing an experiment between two people exchanging in the basic physics of a counterbalance. This action attempts to explain some of the complexities and shapes of healing and interpersonal relationships.”

“The artwork is grounded, physical and bold however is held in a permanent state of suspension. In one way during the emotional process of healing the support offered by others reduces harm. This is acted out in a very literal sense within the painting, through counterbalancing.

“In another way this artwork, and a large portion of society, tries to apply logic and reason to a process that has undefined parameters,” Bronte said.

“I do believe that public art should be a space to explore the full range of the human condition, not just ‘easy’ parts. It is a testament to Queensland Rail to champion the artists practice without dilution.”

To date, the Positive pARTnerships Program has delivered 198 projects which cover approximately 27,000 square metres across the Queensland Rail network, including on station buildings, subways, sound barriers and other infrastructure.

Words by Queensland Rail