Inside-Out Billboard by Christophe Canato

CITY OF JOONDALUP, Western Australia

PANDORA'S BOX 2015 © Christophe Canato

The City of Joondalup’s Inside-Out Billboard has undergone a change with a new artwork display of commissioned work by artist Christophe Canato. 

Artist Christophe Canato was commissioned by the City for the third instalment of artwork for the Inside-Out Billboard, displaying series of diverse and engaging contemporary artworks by Western Australian artists.

Canato is a professional artist working in the medium of photography and was the winner of the Popular Choice Award at the 2014 Community Invitation Art Award.

The artwork called ‘Pandora’s Box’ was developed following a series by Canato called ‘Ricochet’. The series consists of darkly lit still life photographs representing subjects brimming with a sense of uncertainty and mystery, in this case evoking the fascination and imagination that lies within the mind of a child.

‘Pandora’s Box’ is an image of a young woman, in a dark forest, in front of a gently lit canopy of leaves, kneeling and holding a box. She is back-lit and glows in the dark forest. 

The artwork changes throughout the day depending on the light and position of the sun. In the morning the scene appears as a very dark landscape with only the outline visible of the girl in the forest - creating a sense of tension and mystery. As the sun moves to the west further details of the forest leaves and canopy appear, finally at twilight the billboard begins to glow and the scene is revealed in fine detail. 

Canato’s artwork will remain on display until September 2015. The next artist to be commissioned to produce an artwork will be selected from artists taking part in the Community Art Exhibition in June 2015.