State Library & Archives

AllPublic ArtSurface Design
Written By Caleb Nichols-Mansell

Artwork linking Kunanyi to Timtumili Minanya through pathways of water, memory, and story.

As part of the redevelopment of the State Library and Archives, I was engaged to design an integrated flooring artwork using rubber or linoleum. The circular composition evokes a yarning circle, an invitation to gather, reflect, and connect. The flowing line work references the waterways beneath the building, linking Kunanyi/Mount Wellington to Timtumili Minanya/Derwent River, and symbolises the layers of cultural knowledge, memory, and story housed within the library. This piece offers a grounded sense of place and an enduring link to both land and legacy.

Client: State Library & Archives of Tasmania x Liminal Studios
Project Type: Public Art, Surface Design
Location: Hobart, Tasmania
Year: 2024

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Caleb Nichols-Mansell

Caleb Nichols-Mansell moves between Country, culture, and contemporary practice — weaving stories from land, spirit, and community into powerful visual languages. As a proud Palawa man, Caleb's work bridges the ancient and the evolving, reimagining Aboriginal knowledge systems through design, public art, and digital storytelling.

His practice is rooted in Country and carried forward through site-responsive interventions, graphic and surface design, and large-scale public commissions. Through intricate textures, flowing linework, and bold organic forms, Caleb invites reflection on identity, resilience, and the enduring strength of Palawa people.

His works have been commissioned by leading institutions across Australia, including MONA, University of Tasmania, Arts Tasmania, Australian Fashion Week, Lifeline Australia, and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra; embedding stories of survival, connection, and contemporary Aboriginal identity into the cultural, public, and built environment.

www.calebnicholsmansell.com.au

https://www.calebnicholsmansell.com.au
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