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Lockyer Valley Public Art Initiative

Between Water and Wild

Experienced sculpture artist Christopher Trotter has been selected to bring a brand-new public art trail to life at Gatton’s Lake Apex precinct.

His work, titled ‘Between Water and Wild’, will feature six unique sculptures that will be positioned around the lake, with completion expected by March 2027.

Drawing on the Lockyer Valley’s rich agricultural and ecological heritage, Christopher will transform discarded materials into imaginative sculptural forms. Many of the works will feature realistic native birds perched upon creative forms constructed from repurposed materials, such as irrigation pipes, tractor steats and earthmoving plough tines.

The public art trail will not only reflect our region’s identity through an artist’s eyes but help further activate the popular Lake Apex precinct.

The project received $430,000 in Australian Government funding through the Public Art Initiatives, one of 29 commitments under the SEQ City Deal – a partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Council of Mayors (SEQ) to deliver long-lasting benefits for the fast-growing SEQ region.

Concept design imagery, including exact form, finish and colours is indicativeonly and will be confirmed during design development. Concept designs are copyright protected.

This body of sculptural works responds directly to the curatorial framework of Between Water and Wild, translating the the Lockyer Valley's agricultural heritage and ecological richness into a collection of varying-scaled installations. Most pieces feature realistic native birds perched upon creative, organically flowing forms constructed from repurposed irrigation pipes, bends, and reducers. The works embody the region's deep relationship with water systems, agriculture, and Lake Apex's birdlife, while sitting comfortably within the precinct to activate the space and give it renewed life.

The sculptures explore the dynamic interplay between realism and abstraction. Lifelike bird forms—rendered with careful attention to native species found along local waterways —perch atop flowing, sculptural infrastructures of bent and curved water pipes. These organic pipe forms become visual metaphors for the invisible forces the curatorial vision celebrates: water flow, growth patterns, regeneration, and the life-sustaining networks that connect landscape to community. 

The whimsical, undulating pipe structures evoke irrigation systems, stream courses, and the elegant movements of water itself, while simultaneously suggesting new growth pushing skyward. Upon these abstract foundations, the realistic avian subjects create moments of recognition and delight, inviting viewers to discover the familiar within the transformed. The juxtaposition of detailed, lifelike native birds against abstract flowing forms directly addresses the curatorial brief, with birds offering recognisable entry points —species viewers may encounter at Lake Apex—while the pipe structures represent the invisible ecological forces shaping the region.

Components sourced from Gatton's agricultural and industrial past—tractor seats, automotive bearings, Eaton's truck differential housings, earthmoving plough tines, excavator components, irrigator parts, tractor headlamp bodies, and clutch mechanisms —carry embedded histories dating back generations. These objects, recognisable to local workers and residents, function as time capsules connecting viewers to the region's working heritage. This material regeneration directly parallels the environmental resilience and renewal celebrated in the curatorial vision, demonstrating the Valley's capacity for reinvention while honouring its past.

For over thirty years, Christopher's practice has involved sourcing and joining unrelated objects to create new entities that honour their original architecture while enabling transformation. Each component is specifically selected—not randomly assembled—maintaining the integrity and design history of discarded mechanical objects while giving them renewed purpose and context. The sculptures maintain the authentic weathered conditions of found materials: pitting, scratches, surface irregularities, and the patina of use become part of the visual narrative rather than imperfections to conceal. This honest aesthetic celebrates the objects' journeys and the hands that once used them.

Lake Apex Art Trail
 

The Artworks in Detail

The artwork will be crafted from robust, repurposed industrial materials, welded or bolted together with hot-dip galvanised bolts ensuring minimal maintenance requirements and coated with Xtroll Rust Conqueror and Xtroll Silver.

Despite the main body of the artwork being up high, it will be attractive to children through its whimsical flowing form and will also appeal to broad cross section of the public with elements of delight and discovery. Christopher has provided indicative imagery of a native bird perched like those found about our waterways and streams.

 

It is envisaged the piece would become some what of a perch for native birds to haunt, and preen themselves creating unique photographic moments.

The artwork will be crafted from robust, repurposed industrial materials, welded or bolted together with industrial scaled bolts ensuring minimal maintenance requirements and coated with Xtroll Rust Conqueror.

 

The artwork will be engaging through its whimsical bulbous base and flowing form. The piece will appeal to broad cross section of the public with elements of delight and discovery. A halcyon bird form inspired by the Sacred Kingfisher heard while visiting the site will perched on the
tendril directing you towards the bird hide.

The artwork will be crafted from robust, repurposed industrial materials, welded or bolted together with industrial scaled bolts ensuring minimal maintenance requirements and coated with Xtroll Rust Conqueror.

 

The artwork will be engaging through its weathered whimsical Jolly Roger form along with parrot artwork inspired by Cockatoos, Lorikeets and Rosellas seen and heard about the lake. Often warning signs are overlooked by the public and this artwork endeavours to make them more seen and understood by young and old.

The artwork will be crafted from robust, repurposed industrial materials, welded or bolted together with industrial scaled bolts ensuring minimal maintenance requirements and coated with Xtroll Rust Conqueror.

 

An engaging whimsical early plant form inspired by early plant growth in agriculture. A blossoming tractor seat head adorns a family of territorial Noisy Miner birds claiming it as their property. The birds appear to be interacting with each other through gesture.

The artwork will be crafted from robust, repurposed aeroplane propeller blades recomposed into a new form fixed to the top of shade structure post upright via steel cap. artwork coated with Xtroll Rust Conqueror and base cap to post coated in Xtroll Silver for minimum maintenance.


A simple engaging piece and visual marker for those picnicking. The piece is inspired by not only flight but is deliberately generic. ‘What kind of bird is that?’ -a questioned asked by many Birders.

The artwork will be crafted from robust, repurposed industrial materials including massive valve body, 90 degree cast iron elbows, Eaton’s differential housing, earthmoving components and recomposed into an engaging and creative interpretation of a Duckbill Valve. That’s right there is such a thing and is used in the fields of Stormwater, flood control and irrigation.


This piece celebrates the colours found in industrial objects and is a playful reference to beautiful birds plumage seen about Lake Apex. The artwork will be coated with Xtroll Rust Conqueror for minimum maintenance.

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