Glass sculptural installation by local artist, Annette Blair
Blair’s artworks, Quiet skies, as the sun rises and Quiet skies, as the sun sets comprise two sculptures in the east and west stairwells.
Suspended in the newly constructed spiral stairwells of the Memorial, two glass sculptures shimmer, casting dynamic shadows across the space. These breathtaking installations, hand-made by Annette Blair at Glassworks Canberra, transform the space into a place of remembrance and peace.
Glass artist, Annette Blair with work from exhibition Quietly Spoken, 2022. Courtesy of Canberra Glassworks
Annette Blair is an Australian glass artist with a practice spanning over 20 years. Blair creates and produces work for herself, as well as fabricating glass for other high-profile artists. Speaking of her approach, she noted, “My personal work has always been inspired by memories and connections to both people and place.”
The artworks, Quiet skies, as the sun rises and Quiet skies, as the sun sets, were made specifically for this location, which joins the new Main Entrance foyer with the original structure. Handmade from hot-sculpted glass, and based on the colours of sunset and sunrise, each work contains approximately 900 glass eucalypt leaves.
Annette during the installation at the Australian War Memorial
The choice of the eucalypt holds deep significance says Memorial staff member Peter Tonkin.
“Pressed eucalypt leaves made their way into letters from home to the front lines. The leaves’ scent is intensely evocative, and for many Australians, eucalypts are a symbol of our country, evoking emotions of connection and longing. This distinctively Australian tree is a powerful emblem of the country’s natural and cultural landscape,” Tonkin said.
The western sculpture, Quiet skies, as the sun sets, reflects the closing of the day and features red and orange hues.
Blair’s artwork was inspired by those famous lines from the Ode of Remembrance – “At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them” – the work is an ode to the personal and collective sacrifices the Memorial commemorates.
The eastern sculpture symbolises the sunrise, a metaphor for resilience and the enduring spirit. The rising of the sun, after even the darkest night, suggests the hope that can outlive the horrors of war. The western sculpture, reflects the closing of the day, the fading light representing the loss of life, and later reflection.
Glass artist, Annette Blair, fabricating leaves for Quiet Skies in Glassworks Hotshop, 2024. Courtesy of Canberra Glassworks.
Glass artist, Annette Blair, fabricating leaves for Quiet Skies in Glassworks Hotshop, 2024. Courtesy of Canberra Glassworks.
The eastern staircase featuring, Quiet skies, as the sun rises.
Each glass leaf was sculpted by hand, making each piece unique. When viewed from different angles, no two perspectives are the same. Spanning an area of approximately six by four and a half metres, the leaves appear to overlap, creating a soft glow of colours, light and shadow.
The leaves also resonate with Blair and her family history.
“Both of my grandfathers, and one of my grandmothers both served in wars for Australia," she said.
"They’re all gone now, but that was part of the whole fallen leaves concept as well, a nice way to reflect, and to create a bit of stillness for people visiting the Memorial, to reflect on their own experiences as well as war in general.”