by Mark S. Holsworth
Published by Melbourne Books
“…providing an effuse and accessible discussion on public sculpture’s relationship with the urban environment…”
Sebastian Dewhurst, National Trust of Australia (Victoria) Issue 3 2015
“I love books that guide me to look at my city with fresh eyes, and this one inspires me to get out there with my camera and photograph my favourites just as Holsworth has done.”
Lisa Hill, ANZ LitLovers LitBlog
Sculptures of Melbourne explores major changes in the nature of public sculpture. When Melbourne was established, sculpture was heavily influenced by the colonial legacy of neo-classical bronze and marble statues. From 1980 onwards, public sculpture changed dramatically, not only in style but in materials, location and sheer numbers. This book, which includes controversial modernist sculptures such as ‘The Yellow Peril’ as well as unofficial laneway installations, tells the story of how the shifting trends in public sculpture moved from a classical style, to commemorative, to a corporate modernist style, to being integrated into urban design, and finally evolving into a contemporary style, which is non-traditional and temporary.
Hardback 210x190mm
Colour photos throughout 224 pages
Black Mark 
May 4th, 2015 at 4:44 PM
[…] Sculptures of Melbourne […]
June 1st, 2015 at 5:34 PM
Hi, the ISBN is wrong, it should be 9781922129697
June 1st, 2015 at 5:38 PM
You are right Kerry. I must correct it. Is it incorrect in the original media release? I must check that out. Thanks.
June 1st, 2015 at 7:10 PM
I think the media release was right, can’t remember now where I checked it!
June 8th, 2015 at 12:56 PM
Congratulations again, Mark. I’ve just given it a mention here: https://instagram.com/p/3pvDSMPL_U/
June 8th, 2015 at 5:48 PM
Cheers James and that’s for the instagram plug.
April 11th, 2016 at 10:39 AM
Hi bronze is not as bad as it may seem as 75 % is from recycled bronze and copper and it is never thrown away in the same way other materials are and it is not in short supply . it may be energy intensive to produce but so is a can of paint or a tin of beans
April 11th, 2016 at 5:37 PM
Lots of recycled sculptures, as well as sculptor’s material. Sculptor’s clay is always recycled. I haven’t seen any environmental analysis of the impact of different types of sculptures.
August 30th, 2020 at 7:11 PM
Hi Mark, I am just trying to find out if you uncovered any evidence that the the inspiration for the statues of the child leading the lions comes from the Bible verse in Isa 11:6,… and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them.
I would very much like to know.
Thanks
Paul
August 30th, 2020 at 9:35 PM
Hi Paul, No evidence of that but I’m sure that those verses would have been on people’s minds at the time; the meaning in allegorical works piles up. Bruce Scates (A Place to Remember, 2009) says that the child was a symbol of the future, as well as, a tribute to the school children’s effort in raising funds for the Shrine.
That sent me back to the books. Cheers, Mark