Each year Council engages emerging artists to create installations that celebrate Valentines Day. These artworks are installed at the following locations across the City:

In 2024 three artists created two installations each across the City of Canada Bay. They utilised existing public benches as part of their artwork.

Chris Smith

@art_chrissmith

ARTIST STATEMENT

With no distinct start nor end Celtic Knots represent interconnection. The Celtic Love Knot is two interwoven hearts indicating a couple joined together, this unbroken knot displays the eternal nature of love.

The Sailor’s Knot entwins two knots creating an infinite loop. This sturdy knot symbolises an unbreakable bond of love, harmony, family and friendship.

The knots also represent interconnectedness to nature.

The concept is to weave the Sailor’s Knot and attach it along the backrest of the seat with the Love Knot intersperced. The red Love Knot and white Sailor’s Knot gives contrast allowing the hearts to pop.

Leyla Oz

@leylaoz.studio

ARTIST STATEMENT

Studio LOZ created a series of kinetic love heart artworks made from laser cut acrylic in pink and red tones. Attached to the back surface of the public seat, the artwork symbolises Canada Bay as the heart of the Inner West with its natural boundary of Parramatta River. The artworks features a heart with flowing veins like a river and creates a backdrop that connect different parts of Canada Bay under the theme of Valentine's Day.

Each artwork has a centrepiece heart and a series of smaller hearts, attached in a way that looks like they grow out of the central artwork. This creates a photographable work of art to be shared on social media platforms, particularly engaging a younger audience through digital fabrication methods and unique materials.

Stephanie Quirk

@colour_mountain

Credit: Photos by Sarah Kukathas

ARTIST STATEMENT

Stephanie created a series of captivating "Love Portholes". Inspired by the aesthetics of Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge, different seat arches—hearts, arches, and semi-circles—in vibrant colours of reds, golds, were mounted behind the backrest of the public seating.

Crafted from reused and recycled materials, shaped wire, wool, and adorned with ribbons, the artworks featured an array of poems about love from Maya Angelou to Shakespeare.

The bright colours and ribbons moved by the wind transformed the seats to vibrant, engaging and celebratory stages, creating an occasion for connection, Instagram moments, and a talking point to those who used the public seating.