Following an open call for artists, artist Mat Dugard was selected by Culture Perth and Kinross to create a series of new public artworks in November 2020.

The commission of the artworks at two Culture Perth and Kinross-operated venues, the AK Bell Library and Perth Museum & Art Gallery was to reflect the cultural heart of Perth, enhance the visitor experience and reconnect people with public spaces once more.

Mat’s design for the Perth Museum and Art Gallery was created digitally using a bold tapestry of images and iconography, abstracted from motifs of the pandemic and the collection. The finished design, created to be a celebration of culture and creativity at a challenging time, is a bold illustration contrasting with the grand architecture of the Museum. This was printed and then wrapped around each of the four columns on the exterior of the building.

The centrepiece of the design is the phrase “Until We Hold Each Other Again”. Mat’s romantic wording completely sums up to passersby the want of so many to be close to each other as they were in a pre-pandemic world. The text is optimistic and invites onlookers to keep going forward in the knowledge life will go on, we will hold each other again and we will prevail.

Mat also created artworks on key sets of doors at the AK Bell Libary. These can be seen at the main entrance to the library, and a door at the west side of the building facing onto the car park at that side of the building.

Playing with the idea of inviting people back into public spaces, Mat wanted to create a sense of depth to these doors by highlighting aspects of activity taking place behind the doors. The result is a subtle optical illusion.

Working with the commission brief, Mat used images symbolising freedom, change, determination, and resolve to build the final compositions. Motifs of birds were used to symbolise the freedom we have lost during the pandemic and the freedom that will return when it is finally over.