ARTSOURCE
APPROACH:
Artsource was approached by members
of the Sir Hughie Edwards Foundation Peter Firkins
and Jerry Bateman and asked to work with them
and the City of Fremantle to develop a figurative
bronze sculpture to commemorate the life and contribution
of Sir Hughie Edwards specifically his role as
a bomber pilot. Design for the work was also to
incorporate a seating arrangement, providing a
place for rest while contemplating the sculpture.
Air Commodore Sir Hughie Edwards
VC, was Australia’s greatest war hero of
the Second World War. Born in Fremantle in 1914,
he entered the RAAF in 1935, transferred to the
RAF in 1936, and was promoted to Wing Commander
at 26 years of age. Two months later he was awarded
the Victoria Cross for planning and leading a
daring, dangerous and highly successful low level
raid on the Port of Bremen flying Blenheim aircraft.
Four artists were selected to
develop concept designs, with the commission going
to Andrew Kay who had considerable experience
in the creation of life sized figurative bronzes.
It was felt important that while the work was
to completed in highly traditional material and
form, it was important that the work was accessible
to young people of the 21st Century. It was therefore
sited at eye level rather than on the traditional
plinth and efforts were made to ensure that the
detail on the flying suit be interesting for younger
viewers. |
