Compass 2023 lights up Peninsula Link freeway

Lighting has now been installed on artist Natasha Johns-Messenger’s 14m high steel pole sculpture, Compass 2023, on the Peninsula Link freeway providing a dramatic landmark for drivers at night.

The stunning sculpture is the 7^th in the series of public artworks to be displayed on the freeway as part of the Southern Way McClelland Commission.

From today the arcs at the top of the sculpture are illuminated after dark, referencing compass directions floating in the night sky.

Artistic and Executive Director of McClelland, Lisa Byrne, says Compass 2023 is a bold addition to the series, which is likely to intrigue and delight the more than 74,000 freeway users who pass by each day.

“Compass 2023 is a towering three-dimensional presence which gives the viewer a shift in spatial orientation and geometric framing as their vehicle drives past.

“The line-drawing sculptural form made from powder coated steel references points of the compass and will be lit at night in a way that untethers semi-circular shapes in the sky.

“The artist’s thoughtful response to the freeway site makes Compass 2023 another great addition to the sculpture series which has become a popular landmark for visitors to the Mornington Peninsula,” Ms Byrne said.

Artist Natasha Johns-Messenger says Compass 2023 is a continuation of her exploration of the concepts of phenomenology and perception.

“My practice responds to site: its scale, topography, light /spatial orientation, materiality and context. Engaging perceptual shifts inside simple geometric framing, my artworks aim to question our expectations of space and three-dimensional form.

“The forms of Compass 2023 are based on the navigation pillars of North, South, East and West, the smallest semi-circle pointing due North. The sculpture’s semi-circular forms also reference a drawing compass and echo the circular freeway of some freeway off-ramps. At night, the North, South, East and West semi-circles will be lit with narrow beams missing the vertical supports to give the feeling that the arcs 'float' above.

“Utilising spatial and material conundrums, my work creates a chasm between what we think we know and what we perceive, heightening awareness. The fundamental implication here is that we all play a role in authoring our world,” Ms Johns-Messenger said.

The Southern Way McClelland Commission is an ongoing program of new sculptures that alternates every two years between sites at Skye Road and Cranbourne Road along the Peninsula Link freeway, resulting in a total of 14 commissions over the 25-year period to 2037. Southern Way generously donates funding for the sculptures. After four years on public display the sculptures are relocated to McClelland at Langwarrin as part of its permanent outdoor sculpture collection.