Three Businessman who Brought Their Own Lunch; Batman, Swanston and Hoddle Classification: Design
Standing on the corner of Bourke and Swanston streets, right in the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District, this sculpture consists of three separate life-size statues, each an abstract representation of a businessman. Accompanying the artwork is an inscription that reads: ‘”Three Businessman who brought their own lunch: Batman, Swanston and Hoddle” was unveiled on 20 April 1994by his Excellency, the President of Nauru Hon. Bernard Dowiyoga M.P. A gift celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the City of Melbourne from the people and Government of Nauru.’ The sculpture was commissioned in 1993 as part of the Swanston Street Art Works Program, an innovation that set out to recognise and exhibit Melbourne’s immense artistic culture, and has become perhaps one of Melbourne’s most well-known and popular examples of public art. ‘Three Businessmen’ was designed and sculptured by artists Alison Weaver and Paul Quinn, and, as the inscription reads, was unveiled in 1994 as a gift from the government of Nauru in celebration of the City of Melbourne’s 150th anniversary. The sculpture has stood at the crossing of Bourke and Swanston streets for over 15 years, yet has remained one of the City’s most popular and recognisable artworks, perhaps due to its continuing relevance and meaning in society. ‘Three Businessmen’ simultaneously pays homage to the founding figures of Melbourne (Charles Swanston, John Batman and Robert Hoddle) and comments on society, in particular Melbourne’s business and economic culture. Alison Weaver, one of the designers of the sculpture, has commented on the piece, saying that the artwork is attaching negative connotations to the CBD’s immense business and economic culture. The ambiguity and abstraction of the three figure’s faces renders them somewhat unrecognizable; faceless. Their skinny, misshapen bodies and bald heads mean that it is difficult to distinguish whether they are in fact male or female. Their facial expressions; wide eyes and open mouths, may be perceived to be expressions of shock and fear. This perception indicates that the figures are overwhelmed in their environment. It signifies that ‘Three Businessmen’ is contesting Melbourne’s business and economic culture, saying that the value of the individual is being overlooked in the plight for economic and business growth and success. On the other hand, the artwork may be, an often is, read in an entirely different way. Reading the inscription, the three figures can be seen to represent each of the founding figures of