Art invades the laneways

ART and the environment have come together in the laneways of Dandenong.
Mindful Terrains is one of several temporary art installations unveiled in the city under the Revitalising Central Dandenong project.
The artworks are based in Ewart and Pearce lanes in Dandenong and are the works of five artists.
Each piece uses a particular medium to convey a message about environmental issues such as waste disposal or water saving.
The works include a number of different techniques ranging from photography, light sensor projections, and mixed media installations.
The aim is to entice passers-by to explore the laneways and increase awareness of the environment they live in.
Emma Hancock’s work, Water Works, uses jigsaw pieces to create the effect of water flowing from the laneway vents.
Helen Pollard’s installation, We Just Like to Hang Around, offers a serious reminder of the longevity of objects such as disposable plastic cutlery.
Artist Ceri Hann uses light-based works to suggest the impression of water droplets on the ground, which contrasts with Penny Algar’s intriguing Insect Ladders, which offer microscopic life forms an avenue of escape to a safer place.
Artist Isabel O’Brien’s Shifting Tableaux enables the viewer to become part of the work as they stand before a reflective surface and are superimposed onto an image of an idyllic Australian landscape on the wall behind them.
Ewart and Pearce lanes are located off Walker Street, half way between Lonsdale and Thomas streets in Dandenong. The installation can be viewed at any time.