The first Melbourne Art Tram for 2017 has hit the tracks, turning the everyday commute into a creative contemporary art experience.
Designed by Victorian-based artist and graphic designer Bushra Hasan, the first Art Tram – launched this morning by Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley – is one of eight trams that will hit the tracks across Melbourne in the weeks ahead, as part of the Melbourne Festival and the annual Melbourne Art Trams initiative.
“The Melbourne Art Trams project celebrates two distinctly Melbourne assets – our trams and our creativity,” said Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley. “The project puts art at the centre of public life and acknowledges the powerful role creativity can play in many different areas – from public art, to public.”
Bushra Hasan is an artist and graphic designer whose art is inspired by popular Indian street and tribal art. The inspiration for her tram design Tramjatra comes from her love for Melbourne’s trams and the unique friendship between the tram-loving communities of Kolkata in India and Melbourne, and a partnership with Melbourne trammie, Roberto D’Andrea.
A revival of the Transporting Art project that ran between 1987 and 1993, Melbourne Art Trams is a partnership between Melbourne Festival, Creative Victoria and Public Transport Victoria in collaboration with Yarra Trams, and forms a key part of Melbourne Festival’s visual arts program.
The other artists who have designed the remaining seven trams are: Emma Anna, Josh Muir, Justine McAllister, Matthew Clarke, Oliver Hutchinson, Robert Owen and St Albans Heights Primary School and Community Hub. The 2017 Melbourne Art Trams will remain on the tracks until April 2018.
“Victoria is full of talented and inspiring artists and this year’s Melbourne Art Trams designs are among the best we’ve had,” said Melbourne Festival Artistic Director Jonathan Holloway. “We’re thrilled to have to have this project as part of our visual arts program again.”
A People’s Choice award will be announced following the release of all the trams, with the public able to vote for their favourite tram and be in the running for great prizes at: festival.melbourne.
The 2017 Melbourne Festival runs to 22 October. For more information and complete program, visit: festival.melbourne for details.
Image: Bushra Hasan, Tramjatra, 2017 (supplied)