On Hobarts waterfront there stands a series of sculptures called "Footsteps towards Freedom". The statues stand where the convicts first set foot on hobarts soil. It has four main sculptures of three Irish female convicts and two children. Each sculpture is designed to showcase an individuals story, being one of petty crimes, which sent them halfway around the world as they suffered many hardships, but longed for hope and a new beginning.
This particular sculpture is of a young Irish lad who was seperated from his mother. The Irish artist, Rowan Gillespie, modeled the statues on the living descendants of the Irish Convicts.
As I stood there taking in these individuals stories and wondering how they must have been feeling, I tried to capture the feeling of each 'person' as they step out into 'Old Hobart Town' thus trying to capture the landscape around them.
If you wish to learn more this article is worth a read.
My gosh what a poignant statue to remind us of things which should have never happened. Many Maltese, after WWII were urged to migrate to Australia offering them gold but found only sufferings.
