The Medal Blooms Project 2018
In 2006, Queensland artist Elizabeth Poole exhibited Blooming Yellow Wave for SWELL Sculpture Festival. The blooms stood gloriously amongst the Currumbin Beach dune, simulating the way wildflowers grow.
For the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, SWELL commissioned Elizabeth to rework the installation on a grand scale with the 853 medal winning athletes at its core as the Medal Blooms installation. Each solitary flower stands tall yet unified. Every bloom represents a multitude of stories, growing with the achievements and triumphs of the Games.
As an artist, Elizabeth Poole plays at the intersections of art and nature. The Medal Blooms work responds directly to the surrounding local environment and draws upon the cheerful Climbing Guinea Flower, indigenous to the coastal regions of Eastern Australia.
The climbing flower provides a metaphor for the Athletes competing at the Games, who are undertaking a climb of their own - to reach their personal peak at the top of their chosen field, being recognised by the highest awards of Gold, Silver and Bronze.
The enthusiasm of colour and curvilinear energy rippling from a centre point invites the viewer to immerse themselves in the incredible achievements and feats unfolding during the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games as each bloom transforms with the medal winners names over the duration of the Games.
The Medal Blooms was at the Commonwealth Games Athletes Village for the duration of the Games.