Panel from Melbourne’s Shucked Foundations: Oyster Legacy
Photography: Mark Ashkanasy
Melbourne’s Shucked Foundations: Oyster Legacy
During the gold rush period, the demand for oysters grew exponentially, leading to poor agricultural practices. Once discarded as waste, the oyster shells were repurposed and burnt to create lime for cement, which became foundational to Melbourne’s early architecture.
Louise’s solo exhibition features sculptural artwork crafted from recycled materials and crushed oyster shells. Upcycled oyster shells, sourced from Melbourne’s iconic Queen Victoria Market, are transformed into artworks with an ecological narrative.
The artist’s impression of Melbourne’s landscape, with the Yarra (Birrarung) flows through the work and abstractly outlines Bunjil, the revered wedge-tailed eagle in Aboriginal stories. The exhibition honours Melbourne’s oyster heritage while emphasising the vital role of Indigenous wisdom in ecological conservation.
Opening hours
17/09/2025 - 12/10/2025
Location
City Library Gallery
253 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Launch
Thursday 18/09/2025
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Artist talk
Sunday 05/10/2025
2:00 pm - 3:00pm (Free event)
Exhibition supported by
Exhibition Installation & Artwork
Public Programs at City Gallery Library
Photography: Mark Ashkanasy
Arist Talk
An invitation to step inside Louise Marson’s practice through a live artist talk as she explains her creative processes.
Date: Sunday, 5 October 2025
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Price: Free entry