11 August 2011

Spring Orchard by Gloss Creative

Spring has sprung early at Melbourne GPO with a refreshing installation by Gloss Creative, writes Linda Cheng.

In the lead up to spring fashion season, Melbourne's GPO (MGPO) has collaborated with Gloss Creative to transform the 19th Century interior of the building into an enchanted garden with 'Spring Orchard' installation.

Headed by Amanda Henderson, the team of artists at Gloss Creative has grafted a 30-foot overgrowing vine made from a kilometre of rope onto the first floor of the MGPO's atrium.

2000 supersized pieces of fruit and foliage hang tantalisingly over the balconies. The pieces are made from paper, purpose-designed, individually scored and draped together with passionfruit vine. The colourful, stylised cascade anticipates the arrival of this year's Spring/Summer collections.

'Cabinets of Curiosity' peek out from behind the curtain of greenery. Showcasing designs from MGPO's retailers, the glass vitrines display the garments like specimens in old world museums.

The installation is designed to invoke "thoughts of both a horticulturalists potting shed and a curated collection of precious, botanical artefacts".