Reimagining public space through temporary sculpture, story, and community.

The Ballarat Empty Plinth Project is an annual public art initiative inviting artists to create temporary sculptural works for display in Ballarat’s Intercultural Gardens. The City of Ballarat works closely with Multicultural Arts Victoria (MAV) to deliver this project, that fosters contemporary responses to place, ecology, identity and belonging through artist-led approaches.

Each year, a new artist is commissioned to present a site-responsive work, sparking dialogue between people, community and the natural environment. The project is part of the City of Ballarat’s Temporary Public Art Program and forms a dynamic platform for creative voices to animate public space.

Jingwen He, Myriad of Lights, 万家灯火 (2026 Commission)

Jingwen He’s engagement with Ballarat’s Chinese community formed an important part of the development of this work, creating opportunities for conversations about the enduring legacy of Chinese migration to the region. Through community consultation and storytelling, Jingwen explored how the experiences of Chinese miners and settlers during the gold rush continue to shape the identity, values and cultural fabric of Ballarat today. These exchanges highlighted not only the challenges and resilience of early Chinese communities, but also their significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural development of the city. By connecting historical narratives with contemporary lived experiences, the project invites audiences to reflect on the ways migration stories continue to influence Ballarat’s evolving multicultural identity.

This artwork draws inspiration from the history of Chinese migration to Ballarat during the gold rush. Inspired by the southern Chinese Flower Lantern (花灯), the sculpture celebrates journeys, resilience and cultural contribution across generations. Its layered steel form creates shifting patterns of light, shadow and transparency, symbolising the complexity of migration experiences and the ways cultures intersect and enrich one another over time. The work encourages visitors to pause and consider themes of belonging, memory and connection within Ballarat’s shared intercultural story.

The significance of this project is amplified through the Empty Plinth Program, which provides a valuable platform for artists to respond to Ballarat’s history, communities and public spaces through contemporary art. By presenting new works in prominent civic locations, the program encourages public dialogue, cultural exchange and community participation. It enables artists such as Jingwen He to bring underrepresented histories into the public realm, fostering greater understanding of the diverse voices that have contributed to Ballarat’s development. In doing so, the Empty Plinth Program strengthens connections between past and present, creating opportunities for residents and visitors to engage with stories that continue to shape the city's future.

Jingwen He (Jina) is a multidisciplinary artist, architect and educator based in Melbourne. Working across public art, architecture and installation, she creates site-responsive works that connect people, place and culture. Her practice combines spatial design, storytelling and community collaboration to create meaningful experiences in the public realm. Through projects such as this, Jingwen demonstrates how contemporary art can act as a bridge between communities, bringing historical narratives into conversation with present-day experiences and creating spaces for reflection, understanding and connection

Kathy Holowko, Nesting (2025 Commission)

Kathy Holowko, a Central Highlands-based artist of Ukrainian heritage, brought her distinctive sculptural practice to the Intercultural Gardens near City Oval. Her work explores ecology, urban life and the systems that shape how we live together. For this commission, Kathy drew inspiration from native animal shelters and the concept of “home” as a shared experience across species and cultures. The completed installation reflects care, kinship and coexistence, with organic forms and textures that evoke natural rhythms and cultural traditions.

Kathy has created the sculptural work called Nesting inaugural Empty Plinth Program.

“The site of the Intercultural Gardens honours our multicultural society, and this sculpture symbolises the universal importance of home and community. Home is a feeling. Ideally, it is a place of comfort, safety, and gives us a sense of belonging to enable us to reach a fulfilling, purposeful, and flourishing life. The wooden forms in this sculpture represent the concept of home and are based on the domed shaped nests of the local, native, Superb Fairy Wren. The collection of nests form a united community where our multi-species kin are also considered an important part of this community.”

The Empty Plinth Program is part of the City of Ballarat’s Temporary Public Art Program and celebrates evolving, site-responsive artworks in public spaces. Developed with community input, the Intercultural Gardens provide a gathering place for celebration and shared meaning, and Kathy’s work now stands as a sculptural invitation to reflect on belonging and connection.

This project demonstrates the City of Ballarat’s commitment to fostering contemporary public art and supporting artist-led approaches that respond to place, community and environment.