Public Art Installation

Prawn Run

Overview

Prawn Run is rooted in a childhood ritual—wading into shallow water at night, light in hand, waiting for prawns to leap toward the moon.

I led the concept, design, and delivery of the work—translating this culturally grounded story into a permanent public installation for a coastal sculpture trail in New South Wales.

The piece captures both a deeply personal memory and a practice embedded in the region’s cultural history, including its significance to Indigenous communities over thousands of years.

Experience Breakdown - Conceived and directed a narrative-driven public artwork grounded in local cultural context - Designed a series of large-scale sculptural prawns, elevated on lighting columns to create a dynamic spatial composition - Engineered fully 3D forms using laser-cut aluminium, developed through iterative parametric modelling - Designed a central illuminated “moon” structure as the narrative anchor of the installation - Integrated solar-powered lighting systems to create a night-time transformation of the work - Collaborated with engineers to resolve structural systems, footing design, and long-term durability - Delivered a permanent installation designed for public interaction and environmental exposure - Balanced contemporary storytelling with sensitivity to Indigenous cultural heritage and local community identity

Closing

Prawn Run demonstrates my ability to create meaningful, site-specific work that resonates across both personal and cultural narratives.

The installation transforms a local memory into a shared public experience—bridging past and present through light, form, and story.

It stands as a permanent contribution to the landscape, designed to endure physically while continuing to engage audiences over time.