Made up of five distinctive sculptures, Forest is a series of placemaking markers located at the site’s pedestrian entries. On arrival at 171 Buckingham Street, Richmond, residents and guests embark on a journey through a forest of curious, illuminated totems.

The five sculptures are inspired by the site’s industrial past, with a stack of cubes referencing the ice factory that once stood there. Each form represents a core element, starting with Wiin (fire), Baan (earth), Yaemeneebik (water), Galk (wood), and Metal. The First Nation names were gifted in consultation with the traditional owners of the land, the Wurundjeri-willam people of the Kulin Nation. Walking the site clockwise, the journey through the five forms tells a story of the elements and their impact on climate change.

The permanent installation explores the interplay of light and shadow, texture and colour, scale and materiality.
Forest contributes an authentic narrative to the site and context, and it enhances the streetscape through graphic form, scale, colour, and light.