Saltwater People Stories
Leanne Tobin, Nadeena Dixon, Uncle Steven Russell
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Lines on Country
Jacob Nash
Knowledge Woven in Country
Public Art
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Project details
REDFERN, NSW | GADIGAL
2024
Artist: Jacob Nash
Client: TOGA Group
Project Team: Toga Constructions, SJB, Aspect Studios, Studio Prineas, UAP
Photography: Tom Roe and Rachel SeeLines on Country embeds First Nations history into the fabric of Wunderlich Lane, referencing the ancient Aboriginal trading routes that once crossed the region. It stands as an enduring acknowledgement of the continuous presence of Aboriginal people on Country, connecting stories of the past with the lived experience of the present while creating a legacy for future generations.
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Background
Jacob Nash’s Lines on Country brings cultural depth and heritage to Wunderlich Lane, creating opportunities for learning, reflection and connection. The artwork features twenty suspended aluminium branches and bronze branch inlays embedded within the ground plane, forming a symbolic threshold that invites visitors to engage with Country as they move through the precinct.
The work embodies Jacob’s long-standing commitment to bringing ancient First Nations wisdom and traditional knowledge into contemporary urban settings. It expresses the inseparable relationship between knowledge and Country, recognising that one cannot exist without the other. The meeting of these two elements is embedded within the site itself, reminding community members and visitors alike that the knowledge held by Country endures and travels with them wherever they go.
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Design Strategy
Central to the project was Jacob’s hands-on creative process. As Jacob explains, “You can have all the technology you want, but for me, it always has to start with my hands because if you begin with your hands, you know the truth of the object and what it will do.”
Each suspended branch began as a clay sculpture, hand-shaped by Jacob so that every surface retained the subtle impressions and organic textures of the artist’s touch. These original forms were then cast in aluminium using sand moulds by UAP, translating the handcrafted works into durable sculptural elements while preserving the unique character of each branch. Jake then hand-finished every piece, reinforcing the connection between maker, material and story.
Realising the artwork within the built environment required close collaboration between Tilt, TOGA, the builder and the wider project team. Careful coordination and precise engineering ensured the suspended branches integrated seamlessly with the surrounding architecture, creating the impression that they float effortlessly above the laneway while satisfying the project’s structural and safety requirements.
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Courtesy of Rachel See, UAP -
Jake Nash for Lines on Country -
Tilt Services
TOGA engaged Tilt to lead the artwork’s technical design, engineering and documentation. Jacob’s vision called for a highly integrated and discreet catenary system that would preserve the visual integrity of the suspended branches while responding to the complex constraints of the site. Tilt developed the catenary system through extensive technical investigation and close collaboration with TOGA and the project team. Working in collaboration with artwork fabricator UAP, we coordinated the seamless integration of LED lighting, concealed fixing systems and structural connections, while developing an efficient installation methodology that enabled the hanging and ground plane artwork to be delivered safely and precisely.
- Project Consultation
- Contractual engagement with artist
- Detailed Design inc. CAD, structural engineering and lighting integration
- Design of catenary system and site integration
- Certification, construction documentation and shop drawings
- Installation, site documentation and handover
- Project Management
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Outcome
Lines on Country enriches the everyday experience of Wunderlich Lane with a subtle overlay of First Nations culture, inviting curiosity and a deeper connection to Country. Through seamless integration of art, engineering and place, the artwork sits lightly within the public realm, allowing Jacob’s timeless narrative to endure as part of the precinct’s identity.
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“There’s ancient stories, there’s contemporary stories and so what you see in the artwork is the idea of these lines that are contemporary but they also reach back into the past.”
Jacob Nash
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