Parkville Station

Patricia Piccinini’s Vernal Glade is an expansive array of colourful ceramic tiles elevated above the concourse at Parkville Station.

The vast field of handmade tiles is a gesture of care to the users of this vibrant precinct, offering a moment of visual calm. The tiles epitomise the interaction of respectful human ingenuity and natural materials, linking the past to the possibilities of a positive future.

The tiles have been hand crafted in Japan to create a calming visual field of organic forms and colours. Piccinini designed the tiles in response to this place of healing, research and learning. The work draws upon biophilic design principles with the colour selection of the tiles referencing nature and the Australian bush to evoke emotions of calm, optimism, and warmth. Piccinini also worked with the station design team to develop the eucalyptus-inspired green colour scheme that frames the artwork.

Celebrated Victorian First Nations artist, Maree Clarke, has created Tracks – a line-wide artwork that spans all 5 stations. Clarke’s artwork showcases native fauna found across the traditional lands and waters of the 5 Kulin Nation clans – Wadawurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung, and Bunurong / Boonwurrung. Maree’s artwork comprises large scale floor mosaics created from coloured granite. The granite was cut using a waterjet, with each piece finished and assembled by hand. There are a total of 35 footprints featured across the 5 station platforms.

The footprints at each station have been chosen by the artist from native animals (living and extinct) found in the different natural habitats across Kulin Nation Country, which includes Greater Melbourne and parts of south-central Victoria.