Artistic collaboration brings wastewater system to the surface

As an artist, designer and maker of weird and wonderful things, Callum Preston is renowned for capturing a specific time and place with his nostalgia-fuelled creations.

He has built a full-sized replica of the time-travelling DeLorean car, recreated a 1990s-style suburban milk bar and VHS video store in room-sized exhibitions.

But he has never worked on something as child friendly as the artistic installation that he created for Barwon Water, which is one of the attractions at this week’s Royal Geelong Show.

“This was a cool opportunity to look at something more educational and interactive for kids,” Preston said.

“This has a kid museum feel; it’s so much play.

“I love kid museums; I remember them as a kid, and going to them now, with nieces and nephews and friends’ kids, and seeing just how much they lose themselves in it, is awesome.”

Preston has used Barwon Water’s pavilion space at the Geelong showgrounds to bring the region’s underground sewerage and wastewater system to life.

Visitors can discover how pipe blockages can bring a mess to the surface and the gross things that combine to make a ‘fatberg’ that we should keep out of the system.

Other installations show the journey that water follows to be treated and highlight the beneficial uses of recycled water for non-drinking purposes.

The display follows a large sewer blockage on Bellerine Street, Geelong in April this year, which took almost a fortnight to clear due to the size and complexity of the incident.

The blockage, which occurred nearly 30 metres underground, was caused by a build-up of non-flushable wet wipes, fats, sanitary items and other rubbish.

Barwon Water General Manager Customers, Community and Strategy Laura Kendall said the pavilion space would be a hive of activity over the three days of the Show.

“We’re excited to have partnered with Callum to create a playful and engaging way to highlight the need to keep our sewers healthy.

“Callum’s creations are so dynamic and visually appealing.

“They will help visitors to the Show learn more about the weird and wonderful elements that make up our sewerage and wastewater system.”

Preston has collaborated on other projects in the region, including building the immersive sets for the major RONE in Geelong exhibition at Geelong Gallery in 2021.

However, this is his first solo venture in the city.

“I love the idea of a Show; it’s such a traditional Australian activity.

“The Show is a fun place, but it’s also a lot of sugar and rides; it’s nice to have a place that is a little bit educational in a way.”

The Royal Geelong Show runs from October 17-20.

Preston’s creation will also be installed at Barwon Water’s exhibition space in Little Malop Street, Geelong as part of Geelong Design Week from November 21-30.

Callum Preston biography:

Callum Preston is a Melbourne-based artist, designer, maker and art director.

His solo exhibitions include 2015’s Bootleg to the Future, a homage to sci-fi trilogy Back to the Future; 2017’s Milk Bar, which recreated the suburban general store; and this year’s Video Land, in which he constructed an entire video store, featuring 2200 tapes.

Video Land is part of the Immigration Museum’s current exhibition, Joy, in which seven Victorian artists express what joy means to them in room-sized installations.

Callum painting a fatberg character.