The Sacred Shared Labour

The Sacred Shared Labour is a patterned signal box inspired by storytelling traditions within the Persian carpet. Persian carpets communicate many things — they offer a welcome, hold stories, and create a place for people to gather together. Located at the entry into West End from the Cultural Centre — a point where residents, workers and visitors regularly pass and meet — the artwork acts as a visual threshold into the neighbourhood. West End is shaped by movement and encounter, and the design reflects gathering as an everyday shared experience across cultures. The design draws from a visual language I have developed over the past five years, informed by ancient motifs embedded in Persian carpets and reinterpreted through my printmaking practice. Here the patterns reflect experiences of meeting and sitting together in 4101, where repeated gatherings gradually formed a stronger sense of community and belonging. The motifs translate concepts of community and belonging in their patternation. The box is wrapped in a continuous field of mirrored patterns so the imagery flows across all sides rather than presenting a single picture. The repeated motifs create a bold design that can be read from a distance while revealing further detail up close. Some meanings are immediately recognisable, while others unfold slowly over time. Living and working locally, I am inspired by the diversity and daily interaction of people in this area. The design aims to sit calmly within the streetscape while adding visual character to a busy intersection. I hope the work offers a quiet moment that acknowledges the act of coming together, encouraging a sense of connection as people enter West End.