CONTEXT
Question #1: What's a tableau? Well let's go to a dictionary ... tableau
[ta-bloh, tab-loh] plural tab·leaux [ta-blohz, tab-lohz] /tæˈbloʊz, ˈtæb loʊz/, tab·leaus. .... - a picture, as of a scene.
- a picturesque grouping of persons or objects; a striking scene.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tableau
Albeit a somewhat obscure term in everyday language its not so obscure as to be so poorly understood as to be incomprehensible. A 'planner' working in a public space and in a 'cultural context' might well have done some research and/or taken some contextual advice before offering to the community's representatives. In fact, it is the kind of thing that a 'community consultation process' is likely to offer 'expert advice' on if it is sought.
All that aside, in the CIVIC SQUARE planning processes that have been going on since well before the current Launceston City Council was installed, Stephen Walker's 'TASMANIAN TABLEAU' should have been, indeed must have been, a consideration in any credible planing process.
Indeed, how can any credible planning process involving the development of a 'public space' proceed without research and community consultation?
It will be claimed that there was community consultation, and research too, yet on the available evidence, the advice offered to Launceston's aldermen was imperfect despite the provisions of SECTION 65 of Tasmania's Local Govt Act. The plan to reconfigure 'the tableau' is embedded in the March 2017 Civic Square Development Application where aldermen were provided with imperfect advice for whatever reason. The guarantee was not delivered upon on the available evidence.
Indeed, the documentation for approval is silent on the issue of the moral rights of authors relative to any civic artworks located in the Civic Square precinct.
Given that 'the tableau' was a gift to the city from the proprietors of 'The Examiner' [ 1 ] • [ 2 ] on the occasion of the newspaper's sesquicentenary surely this context must have been given some consideration. Unless the city's Aldermen and planners were oblivious to the city's history, 'the tableau' must have been a consideration and ideally it would have informed both the planning and design processes put in place for the redevelopment of Civic Square – [ 1 ] • [ 2 ] • [ 3 ]
.
Indeed, how can any credible planning process involving the development of a 'public space' proceed without research and community consultation?
It will be claimed that there was community consultation, and research too, yet on the available evidence, the advice offered to Launceston's aldermen was imperfect despite the provisions of SECTION 65 of Tasmania's Local Govt Act. The plan to reconfigure 'the tableau' is embedded in the March 2017 Civic Square Development Application where aldermen were provided with imperfect advice for whatever reason. The guarantee was not delivered upon on the available evidence.
"The motion to support the designs in principle was unanimously carried at the City of Launceston council meeting on Monday.... An amendment to the original motion was carried to support the design “in principle” as the redevelopment concept plans will be considered at a special meeting of the council next week." ... As reported in The Examiner
Given that 'the tableau' was a gift to the city from the proprietors of 'The Examiner' [ 1 ] • [ 2 ] on the occasion of the newspaper's sesquicentenary surely this context must have been given some consideration. Unless the city's Aldermen and planners were oblivious to the city's history, 'the tableau' must have been a consideration and ideally it would have informed both the planning and design processes put in place for the redevelopment of Civic Square – [ 1 ] • [ 2 ] • [ 3 ].
The Examiner is Australia's third-oldest surviving daily newspaper after the Sydney Morning Herald (1831) and the Geelong Advertiser (1840).
As The Launceston Examiner, Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser it was first published on Saturday afternoon, March 12, 1842, on a hand press smuggled into Van Diemens Land disguised as brewery machinery.
The Examiner was initially located in Brisbane St, Launceston, and had a staff of 12. So, 'the tableau' carries significant cultural cargo.
However, in a 'civic sense', is it appropriate to put this history and context aside? Likewise, is it enough to leave the interpretation plaques in place and leave interpretation open to speculation not to mention criticism and unwelcome critiques?
However, in a 'civic sense', is it appropriate to put this history and context aside? Likewise, is it enough to leave the interpretation plaques in place and leave interpretation open to speculation not to mention criticism and unwelcome critiques?
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