In 2019, artist Eolo Paul Bottaro was commissioned to create a major public sculpture for Essendon Fields.
In searching for a subject matter for the piece he settled on Atlas, the Titan of Greek mythology who was condemned to carry the weight of the heavens on his shoulders. It’s a powerful tale of endurance through adversity that has circulated since ancient times.
Now, as Essendon Fields prepares to launch this new sculpture and celebrate a centenary of aviation at Essendon Fields Airport, the theme of endurance has become even more relevant to our collective experience.
Eolo Paul Bottaro and Essendon Fields are providing an opportunity for members of the local community to document their personal experiences of the past 21 months and place them within a time capsule, to be sealed within the orb of the Atlas sculpture itself.
This might take the form of a personal video, letter, drawing or photograph. This document will remain sealed inside the sculpture for the next 50 years, to be opened in 2071 on the 150th anniversary of Essendon Fields Airport, so that future generations can gain a first-hand insight into what it was like to live in Melbourne, Australia during 2020-2021.