The sculptural installation has been unveiled at the Australian Garden at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne to commemorate Landscape Architect, Kevin Taylor’s significant contribution to its genesis and fruition.  Kevin passed away in a tragic road accident in 2011 that also claimed the lives of husband and wife architects Lena Yali and Greg McNamara from Troppo Architects.

Designed by internationally renowned artist, Janet Laurence, in collaboration with David Lancashire and Kate Cullity, ‘Secrets of Lightness’ is a sculptural installation of seven glass panels etched with Kevin’s handwritten prose on the Australian landscape.

The sculptural installation was proposed by former Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Dr Philip Moors, and has been installed in one of Kevin’s favourite areas within the ‘Eucalypt Walk’ of The Australian Garden.

“Kevin Taylor’s creativity and passion for the Australian flora can be seen in every tree and stone in this garden. Now with this beautiful sculptural element his words will be part of that inspiring landscape,” said Professor Tim Entwisle, Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Designed by Taylor Cullity Lethlean (TCL) with Paul Thompson, the international awardwinning Australian Garden was delivered over 17 years with Stage Two of the project opening late in 2012. “Kevin would have been incredibly proud of what TCL has achieved with Stage Two of the Masterplan,” said Kate Cullity, Kevin’s wife and Director of TCL. The resultant garden is testament of Kevin’s overall vision to inspire and educate visitors on the Australian landscape and flora:

“The Australian Garden expresses the tension between our reverence and sense of awe for the natural landscape, and our innate impulse to change it, to make it into a humanly contrived form, beautiful yet our own work…[it] seeks to create an environment in which specific qualities of flora are highlighted in a manner which will inspire visitors to further explore Australian plants. This inspiration may be stimulated by a variety of experiences; it may occur through appreciation of beauty, either in detail of broad expanse, through experiencing surprise, humour, awe or reverence. For some the garden will challenge preconceptions and spark their inquisitiveness. For others it will provide information, leading to new understandings.”

In July 2012, Kevin was posthumously awarded the Sir James Irwin President’s Medal at the South Australian Institute of Architects’ Awards in recognition of his exemplary contribution to design.

Royal Botanic Gardens

rbg.vic.gov.au