Prefecture 48 is a Japanese dining precinct set within the historically significant Foley Brothers building. Featuring six food and beverage venues each with their own culinary narrative, our art strategy informed the commission of 7 new site-specific installations.  

Early on, the building’s history was identified as important to the cultural fabric of Sydney and formed a key consideration of how the artistic interventions would interact with the space. Each artist was carefully briefed on its restrictions and features, resulting in commissions that were sensitive to the nuances of a heritage envelope.

Central to the art strategy was the creation of an overarching narrative to establish a framework for the selection of artists and commission of artworks. For Prefecture 48 it was important to embed our research in Japanese history and culture. Conceptually, the art curation strategy was grounded in Ukiyo(e) commonly translated to ‘pictures of the floating world’. Emblematic of the Edo period, Ukiyo(e) represents an unrivalled creative arena where communities gather to indulge in the gamut of artistic pursuits. In a time of great change, the Edo period saw a rise in public access to art, music, poetry and culture at large.

The collection of artworks throughout Prefecture 48 explore the breadth of this floating world and reflect the diverse culinary expression of the various restaurants and bars.