November 2024 | Media Releases
Polo joins Parramatta collection in Lang Walker’s final stroke of genius
Sydney artist Tom Polo has unveiled a giant abstract painting in the 8 Parramatta Square lobby, revealing his largest ever work, and the 11th and final piece commissioned for the precinct, by the late Lang Walker AO.
Measuring 6.4 metres high by 2.6 metres wide, the piece titled how do I reach you, adds to a significant collection of contemporary Australian artwork adorning the lobbies of Parramatta Square by Walker.
Having started his career at Parramatta Artist Studios, Polo says he’s excited to see his work on display in the re-energised CBD overlooking the busy Public Domain.
“I really wanted to create something that reflected the energy and the essence of people who are moving through Parramatta Square, so you'll see in the painting I've used a multitude of vibrant marks and techniques to depict a larger-than-life figure emerging from abstraction,” Mr Polo said.
“A lot of my work is about human relationships and how we encounter people in different environments across time and space, so to know that Lang saw that and wanted to bring that energy to this building, shows that art really is about connection.”
“Public art means a lot to me because it allows people to engage with and appreciate art outside of traditional gallery spaces. I love that how do I reach you will be on display here for many years, reinforcing the idea that art connects us through conversation where everybody brings their own opinions and interpretations to the work.”
Tom Polo - Artist
Artist Tom Polo pictured at 8 Parramatta Square
Walker Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer David Gallant congratulated Polo on his latest work, saying Lang would be proud to see it hanging in the grand lobby of 8 Parramatta Square.
“Lang had a real passion for unearthing and collecting different pieces of artwork believing it was essential for connecting people with places, which is a philosophy he passed on to our entire Walker team,” Mr Gallant said.
“You really feel something special when you bring artwork of this scale and vibrancy into a grand lobby like 8 Parramatta Square. Tom Polo’s incredible work has completely transformed this space and it’s fantastic to see people stop to admire the piece on the way into the office.”
Tom Polo’s work has been recognised through numerous art awards, including the Archibald Prize (2018), the Sir John Sulman Prize (2021, 2019), the Ramsay Art Prize (2021) and the Brett Whiteley Travelling Scholarship (2015). He has also received the Parramatta Creative Fellowship through the City of Parramatta.
how do I reach you hangs adjacent to Matthew Johnson’s Light Fall (Permanence) adding to a large collection of Australian artworks commissioned for Parramatta Square and Walker commercial towers across the country.
Honey Ant Dreaming by Indigenous artist Yaritji Young hangs in the interconnected lobby of 6 Parramatta Square, along with Chris Kenyon’s Rose Hill Packet replica of the boat which carried the first European settlers up the Parramatta River and the renowned Parramatta tapestry. An Indigenous heritage display commissioned for the Darcy Street entrance of 6&8 Parramatta Square by Leanne Mulgo Watson, a Darug artist and educator, tells the story of the site’s heritage from Deep Time (10,000 years ago) to the present.
Tenants and visitors at Parramatta Square are encouraged to engage with the city’s heritage and history by scanning QR codes through the Parramatta Square Passport App, which offers information about each piece's creation and meaning.
