Love is in the air at Toowong Village, where ten giant hearts have been set up all across the shopping centre for the Heart Gallery Exhibition. Each heart supports a different charity, all beautifully hand-painted by local artists.
From now till May, these hearts are up for auction online, as well as via the QR code at each heart’s display, with the funds raised by the hearts going to their respective charities.
Lady Mayoress Nina Schrinner opened the gallery with a morning tea spread, with guests from various charities and organizations present. She emphasized the importance of giving back to the community and the significant symbolism of these sculptures – every community has a heart, just as vital to it as the organ is to the human body. “The mind cannot work without the heart, but the heart can work without the mind,” she said.
The hearts were met with nothing short of love and admiration at the gallery launch – many crowded around the Heart Breaker sculpture for pictures, painted by famed street artist Drapl for charity Share The Dignity, which aims to end period poverty in Australia. To embody the main demographic of the charity, the heart is painted with two women in Drapl’s iconic style.
The charity’s founder Rochelle Courtenay described her amazement at the artwork and its’ message. “I’m hoping that it will resonate with everyone.”
Local sculptor David Joffe was commissioned by Toowong Village to create the hearts, a colourful sight to behold at the launch. The care and detail put into each piece were remarkable, and like with people, these hearts are better appreciated when you get up close and personal with them.
For more information on the exhibition, visit here. The Heart Gallery Exhibition will be open from now till the end of May.
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