Two neon sculptures are bringing a spark of nostalgia to Glen Huntly Station, as part of Glen Huntly level crossing removal works.
The artwork, Neon Terrains created by artist Meagan Streader is comprised of 2 neon sculptures Everlasting and Love Creeper.
'I feel really proud as it is such a unique project for a public space. I haven’t seen anything like this in Melbourne,' Meagan said.
Hand formed neon glass was used to create the sculptures, and unlike LEDs, neon gave the artist a multi-dimensional product to work with.
'I chose glass neon specifically because it is sculptural, you can mould it, I wanted to reinvigorate old material,' she said.
'People also respond to neon in a very different way. It triggers a lot of different feelings for people and memories, nostalgia. I think it has an element of wonder in it.'
The process to create the artwork was highly specialised and involved utilising glass neon bending experts to help bring the art to life.
'You’ve got these big, long tubes that you form over a flame. It’s very hands on, it’s almost a backwards puzzle. You’ve got to work from the middle of the project to the outside. Then you’ve got to pump it with gas, so the colour is actually the inert gas that’s glowing inside,' she said.
The glowing sculptures in selected hues of yellow, green, blue, purple and warm white, take inspiration from 2 native species common to the surrounding area.
'I looked at what was growing, what was consistently seen throughout the landscape. I wanted to choose 2 smaller, bushy, crawler kind of species that could be interpreted as these species, the everlasting and love creeper... but also could be interpreted as something else.
'Even in the day it pops, hopefully it’s going to be a bit of spark for everyone during the day and night,' Meagan said.
You can view the artwork by heading to the new Glen Huntly Station, which now boasts an architecturally designed brick facade, a seamless connection between trains and trams, a sheltered waiting room, and a Changing Places facilities.
The area is now level crossing free with the 2 dangerous and congested level crossings at Neerim and Glen Huntly roads gone for good, transforming how Glen Huntly locals live, work and travel.
