In his most ambitious project to date, Australian artist Rone transforms a mansion abandoned for more than 20 years into a stunning work of art that is part exhibition, part installation, and part VR and AR experience.
Empire takes place within the walls of Burnham Beeches, a sprawling 1930s Art Deco estate in Melbourne which served as a family home, a research facility, a children’s hospital and a luxury hotel before being shuttered and left to ruin in the late 1990s. The location has been transformed into a hauntingly immersive multi-sensory journey into a reimagined past. Known for his large-scale portraits that grace buildings worldwide, Rone painted evocative ‘Jane Doe’ portraits along the crumbling walls of the multi-storey mansion. Revolving around the theme of seasons, a walk through the mansion creates connections between new and old, beauty and ruin, youth and decay. The portraits complement the mood and aesthetic of the scene without dictating a narrative; instead, Rone wanted to encourage spectators to create their own storylines based on the entire haunting, unique experience.
“It’s not often that you can be so fully immersed in another era like this,” Rone states. “It’s almost like we’ve discovered a forgotten time capsule and cracked it open for the world to see.”
Accompanying Rone in this project are the Deco-era styling by interior stylist Carly Spooner, the botanical installations by design studio Loose Leaf, the bespoke scenes design by Kat Snowden, lighting design by John McKissock, and sound design by Nick Batterham.
Empire runs from March 6 to April 22 in Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges Burnham Beeches manor. Book your tickets here. Follow Rone on Instagram.
Images © Rone / with permission