Distance & Proximity Darko Radovic - Architect/Urbanist Darko is originally from Belgrade. He now lives in Australia and is Head of Urban Design at Melbourne University.  He is involved in urban design and research projects in Europe, Asia and Australia. He is interested in cross cultural comparisons in architecture, urban form and public space. Most recent projects have taken place in Japan, India, the former Yugoslavia and Central Australia. Distance & Proximity is an integral part of his life and research and forms the framework for his interest in definitions of urban phenomena. Difference & Compatibility Andy Miller - Artist/Tram Devotee Andy recently returned from Calcutta in India where he was part of a group involved in a Melbourne/Calcutta tram project titled the Tram Jatra Project. Melbourne and Calcutta are two urban experience extremes with the tram as the common link.  The link between the two cities was established by an ex Melbourne tram conductor in 1996. This friendship link has now grown into the 'Tram Jatra Project' where a group of Melbourne architects and others have been working on a number of projects in Calcutta. Andy's role was to look at how successful these links had been... but he also got to paint a Calcutta tram! Andy has initiated and worked on numerous public projects including exhibiting in the urbanart tram shelters. He has visited Vietnam on several occasions and often works in collaboration with a Vietnamese artist. These experiences make him ideal to present some ideas on the theme of Difference & Compatibility. Innovation & Tradition Peter Elliott - Architect Peter is a practicing architect and an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Architecture and Design, RMIT University. His work involves urban design and public architectural commissions within the city, including - The urban spaces project RMIT city campus, Spencer Street Footbridge, Observatory Gate, Royal Botanic Gardens, Carlton Baths Peter has transformed these city public spaces into people friendly spaces. He is responsible for the transformation of the RMIT campus. A recent critique of this work by Joe Rollo in the Age newspaper, described it as 'impressive architecture making'.  What was once a 'cacophony of neglected outdoor spaces is now 'revealing itself as a hidden piece of the city waiting to be rediscovered'. Peter's innovative transformations of existing buildings and spaces makes him the perfect person to present ideas on the theme of Innovation & Tradition. Cooperation & Conflict Gaby Bila Günther - Writer/Poet/Performer Gaby is a writer/poet based in Melbourne after living in Berlin from late 80's to mid 90's. She uses urban tensions, women's issues and the intensity of inner city living as the main inspirations for her writing. Social inequalities, ethnic and political issues picture her words.  In order to push her performance boundaries, she chooses public locations such as public toilets, stairwells, underground train stations and trams for spontaneous performances, spoken-word gigs and visual poetry/stories. Gaby has had her work published in numerous books and journals and has participated in many festivals. Most recently Flush took place in various public toilets around the city during Melbourne Moomba Festival. This is an ongoing project that will grow with time as more people become involved. Besides the stage and the page, Gaby uses her words on the 3CR show Accent of Women, a multicultural women's affairs show where she interviews many inspiring women about their work, politics and lives. She self-published, a book of tram stories in 1999 - Validate and Travel - as slices of social urban history of inner city Melbourne. It was launched on a tram. Readings from Validate and Travel  explore the theme of Cooperation & Conflict.

Individual & Society + Distance & Proximity + Difference & Compatibility + Innovation & Tradition  + Cooperation & Conflict + Catalogue Essays