Elizabeth Street – Block V 2017

Summary

Artist statement Born in Rochdale in northern England, I have always made art and for the last ten years have focused on line ink drawing. I find inspiration in natural and man-made environments, geography, history and the stories that span these subjects. I find the facades of the buildings in the ‘Block V’ drawings to be like a journey. ‘Block V’ is bordered by Flinders, Swanston, Collins and Elizabeth Streets and includes that section of Flinders Lane. Travelling along these streets revealed a patchwork pattern of buildings in line with one another, allowing for a pleasing overall view while the scale made the individual buildings and structures accessible in their own right. Getting a City of Melbourne grant gave me the time and space to methodically concentrate on the whole block and to really study and include ample visual details from the buildings. As part of the grant, I also engaged with people from the University of Melbourne’s History Workshop, that have incorporated the drawings into a 3D digital experience that will share the story of the city with an added layer of interest. Lewis Brownlie