Lara Thomas Lily of the valley

Imagine wandering through a valley lit by hundreds of luminous lilies. The valley is brought to life by the gentle undulations of colour changes, mimicking the cycle and rhythms of life. Plastic bags become things of beauty as they take on new life as flowers reincarnate.

Lily of the Valley draws attention to the history of Western Park as well as the physical features of the land itself. The valley is a permanent reminder of the Tuna Mau stream, which carved out its gentle contours hundreds of years ago. Visitors to the park will be drawn to the valley, admiring its form as they wander through the flowers and pause to spend time in the natural surroundings.

Lily of the Valley was the title of the winning proposal for the Western Park design competition held in 1873. Hammond and Blackmore’s design laid the foundations for the park as we know it today. Over a century later, Art in the Dark is recreating this historical event by giving artists the opportunity to transform Western Park.

Lara Thomas

Part of Lara Thomas’ ethos as an artist is to use materials that are recycled, recyclable or reusable and to waste as little as possible. She loves the satisfaction of finding a way to reuse something and the joy of finding beauty in unexpected places