How Craig Walsh uses projection to transform trees into temporary public monuments

<p>In this interview, Craig Walsh explores the creative process behind <em>Monuments</em>. <em>Monuments</em> is a long-running outdoor projection project that uses projected portraits on trees to create temporary public monuments. The project began at Woodford Folk Festival in 1993, when Craig discovered how a projected portrait could align with the form of a tree and become a sculptural presence in public space.</p><p>Craig Walsh is an Australian artist known for pioneering approaches to projection, installation, and site-responsive public art. Over more than 30 years, his work has animated trees, rivers, mountains, urban architecture, and live event environments across Australia and internationally with projections. </p><p>In this conversation, Craig discusses how <em>Monuments</em> has evolved from early slide projections into a touring project shaped by each site and community. The structure of the work remains clear: projection, trees, night-time public space, portraiture, and temporary monument. What changes is the community, the selected people, the site, and the local meaning attached to each portrait.</p><p>Listen to this podcast to learn about:</p><ul><li>How Craig thinks about projection as sculpture rather than screen-based video.</li></ul><ul><li>Why subtle movement can be more powerful than direct interaction.</li></ul><ul><li>What artists need to consider when making media art in public space.</li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Chapters</strong></p><p>(00:00:00) Working outside the gallery</p><p>(00:02:18) Projection as sculpture and installation</p><p>(00:05:42) The origins of Monuments</p><p>(00:15:18) Choosing who is represented in public space</p><p>(00:19:10) Stillness, sound and subtle movement</p><p>(00:20:31) Weather, trees and outdoor uncertainty</p><p>(00:24:17) Projection, spectacle and light festivals</p><p>(00:25:59) Touring Monuments and installation process</p><p>(00:34:20) Trust, responsibility and representing people at scale</p><p>(00:37:20) Advice for artists working with projection in public space</p><p><br></p><p><strong>About Craig Walsh</strong></p><p>Craig Walsh is an Australian artist known for pioneering approaches to projection, installation, and site-responsive public art. Over the last 30 years, his work has animated unconventional sites, including trees, rivers, mountains, urban architecture, and live event environments across Australia and internationally. His practice combines digital media, public space, and strong conceptual frameworks to create large-scale works that respond to the conditions and histories of each site. Craig has also developed major community-based projects, including <em>Home Gwangju</em> in South Korea, <em>Traces—Blue</em> in Setouchi, Japan, and <em>FIVE</em> with DADAA Inc. in Western Australia.</p><p><strong>Links from the podcast with Craig Walsh</strong></p><ul><li>Learn more about<a href="https://www.monumentscraigwalsh.net/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnlfxcVf1joQjF8w-MJRFMlbbTbcERqaNw6-_m5DzK4h54yugXXfD0A6_aZ4U_aem_wrvaO3t0VkJgEYwFNBa7Fw" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> Monuments</a></li><li>Visit Craig Walsh’s<a href="https://www.craigwalsh.net/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnD8RUOOXljPK_UGrcV6YKQDlolQQSgjpSsKwfKMZYx1gj_4WQSaje8DSrdXU_aem_-VYcWaQh6Duox46RZ_TZNw" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> website</a></li><li>Follow Craig Walsh on<a href="https://www.instagram.com/craigwalsh_monuments/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer"> Instagram</a></li></ul>