The Bag Project

Margaret Dillon – Concreto

Title: The Bag Project

Artist/s: Margaret Dillon – Concreto

Year: 2004

Category: Integrated

Site: Clarkson Station

Location Details: Western entrance wall

Description:

The work, on the western entrance wall, is a series of 44 coloured terrazzo tiles 500mm by 500mm with zinc and stainless steel inlays all mounted flush with the surface of the wall. The tiles depict images associated with the everyday commuter experience, including words and images detailing the contents of bags, images of people using public transport and related patterns and textures.

Artist/s Statement:

The following themes enabled an intimate approach to the artwork and focus on the personal in the public realm.

Commuters – Where are you going today? What do you do? What kind of uniform is that? What is that book you are reading? Commuters were the source material.

Time – Time gives the day structure and direction, not just for those in employment but also for those with a more personal timetable. Time triggers responses throughout the day, on different days for different reasons.

Baggage – Most people carry it. Bags and their contents tell much about people and their lives. The schoolbag, the briefcase, a disposable shopping bag, a mother’s nappy bag, the backpack… the appeal of the bag lies in its ability to transcend economic status, ethnicity and social groupings.