Ron Robertson-Swann, Vault, Yellow Peril, 1979
Summary
Like 'Vault' itself, located since 2002 in the forecourt of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, this Vault-in-miniature has a totemic quality. It currently greets visitors to council’s flagship administration building, CH2, at 240 Little Collins Street.
It also shines a light on the difference between a maquette and a model, terms that are often used interchangeably. An artist will use a maquette as part of the process of working up a concept. A maquette offers a 3D working rough. In the case of 'Vault', there were two maquettes. One is now held in the NGV collection; it is primarily made of timber and certainly looks rough.
By contrast, what we have here is a model because it was made after the public artwork we know as 'Vault' was commissioned. In form, materials and colour it is a reasonably accurate scale replica of the finished artwork. It is also one of a multiple, a common feature of the model.
A series of 10 'Vault' models was made. This is one of them. It is said that Ron Robertson-Swann produced the series in an attempt to make some money back on what was otherwise a less than financially rewarding commission.
As a model, it is probably more accurate to describe this item as an artefact rather than an artwork.
