Animated Steel - QR Trail

Between the Port Office Hotel and Smellies Building at the lower end of Edward Street is a small entrance way (behind the tree) which has this excellent sculpture known as Frogs Hollow. Created by artist Christopher Trotter in 2000, it is part of his series on nature. As you can see, the sculpture is basically a resting place for all manner of metallic frogs!

In Brisbane's history, this was part of the low-lying, swampy district known as Frog's Hollow. It was bounded by George and Edward Streets to the north and south, the west by Elizabeth Street and on the east by Alice Street. In the 1880's boom period, Frog's Hollow became the principle warehousing and light-industrial sector of Brisbane's central business district.

This work has strong environmental references to the site prior to our settlement, and is constructed from materials that are sympathetic to industries undertaken in the past in the building to which the work is attached. The work is attached to the corner of the Smellings' building.

The intent of the work is to recreate part of an environment that once was. The existing modern, but some-what stark and sterile space is given life through the attachment of an organic sculptural canopy extending off the outermost corner of the building. The structure's form is inspired by such organic structures as fungi and staghorn etc. A group of native frogs shelter below.

Since 1994, Chris has worked primarily on public artworks. An important intention of these works is to add human qualities of humour and playfulness to public places.