A major new public art initiative is set to transform Sydney’s Kensington and Kingsford precinct, with Scape and Vital Commons launching New Monumental, a series of large-scale public artworks by three of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary artists.
Supported by Randwick City Council, the project forms part of Scape’s broader investment in the $1 billion KEKI precinct and aims to create meaningful cultural experiences that celebrate diversity, encourage connection and contribute to the area’s growing identity as a vibrant urban centre.
The series brings together artists Monica Rani Rudhar, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran and Reko Rennie, whose works challenge traditional ideas of monumentality and offer new perspectives on identity, heritage and belonging. Curated by Vital Commons, the initiative seeks to redefine the role of public art in contemporary cities by creating monuments that reflect the diversity and complexity of modern Australia.
The first artwork in the series, Multi-Headed Reclining Figure (2025) by Sri Lankan-born Australian artist Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran, has been installed at Scape Kingsford. Cast in bronze and positioned alongside a young frangipani tree, the vibrant reclining figure draws on South Asian artistic traditions while exploring themes of cultural hybridity and plurality. The work presents an alternative vision of monumentality, moving away from traditional heroic forms towards representations that embrace fluid identities and contemporary cultural experiences.
A second installation, Totemic (2025) by Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie, now stands in the revitalised Todman Square at Scape Kensington. Combining a striking bronze sculpture with an expansive ground-plane installation, the work reimagines the concept of a traditional totem through Rennie’s distinctive contemporary style. Blending ancestral symbols with influences drawn from urban culture and graffiti, the artwork reflects ongoing conversations around Indigenous identity and cultural representation in contemporary Australia.
The first two works were installed in 2025, while the final work in the trilogy, Home Under My Feet and Bells in My Ears by Monica Rani Rudhar, will be installed at Scape Lachlan later this year. Originally handcrafted in clay before being cast in bronze, the chandelier-like sculpture draws on the artist’s Indian-Romanian heritage. Suspended above a rangoli-inspired design embedded into the surrounding paving, the work explores migration, memory and cultural connection while symbolically welcoming prosperity and positive energy into the space.
Randwick Mayor Councillor Dylan Parker said the project demonstrates the council’s commitment to supporting creativity, celebrating local stories and enhancing public spaces across the city.
“We’re proud to support the New Monumental public art series in Kingsford and Kensington,” he said. “We are thrilled to see Randwick City become a canvas for contemporary expression.”
Scape Chief Executive Officer Anouk Darling said the project reflects the organisation’s belief that successful communities are built around shared experiences as much as physical infrastructure.
“At Scape, we believe place is more than buildings. It’s people, stories and shared experiences,” she said. “These artworks invite everyone – students, neighbours and visitors – into a cultural dialogue. They don’t just reflect the community; they elevate it.”
Vital Commons founders and curators Dr Josephine Skinner and Bethan Donnelly described the initiative as a platform for artists who are reshaping public discourse through ambitious contemporary artworks that foster connection and understanding.
The New Monumental series forms a key part of the broader KEKI vision, which emerged from Randwick City Council’s Kensington to Kingsford Planning Strategy. With more than $1 billion being invested in the precinct, the artworks are intended to become an integral part of the area’s cultural fabric rather than simply decorative additions to the built environment.
As Kensington and Kingsford continue to evolve, the New Monumental series offers a reminder that public art can play a vital role in shaping community identity, creating shared experiences and reflecting the diverse stories that define contemporary Australia.
Photo: Monica Rani Rudhar Home Under My Feet and Bells in My Ears
Photo Credit: Phillip Huynh
