Forgotten Songs

Forgotten Songs is a public artwork by Michael Thomas Hill located in Angel Place, Sydney.

The principal aim was to address two key issues of urban renewal in city's lanes and climate change.

[4] The artwork concept could be comprehended by the artist's words: "The installation explores how Sydney’s fauna has evolved and adapted to co-exist with increased urbanisation – inviting contemplation of the city’s past, its underlying landscape, and the sustainability issues associated with increased urban development.

"[4] As a result, the artwork's title was selected to celebrate those birds which were living in central Sydney "before they were gradually forced out of the city by European settlement".

And the artist claims that in order to get all those birdcages, his mother, sister and his relatives have been involved in collecting and picking those cages.

Birdcages (detail)
Example of bird species name set into pavement under the art work