Renwick Street
Vespa by Karl Meyer
karlmeyer.com.au
This work by artist Karl Meyer draws on the Italian heritage of Leichhardt, with a focus on the beloved mode of Italian transportation: the Vespa.
The vespa inspired seating is painted Rosso Corsa (red) as it is the colour used internationally by Italian motor racing teams. It is also the red of love and passion, Italian identity, history and culture. The circular format encourages dwell time and on a symbolic level circles encourage meeting, sharing, and social exchange.
Artist statement
The core philosophy behind the proposed artwork is the creation of an iconic form that is deeply grounded in place, culture and expresses the local community. The artwork makes visible the site-specific layer of ‘Little Italy’ in a contemporary manner, appealing to diverse audiences, while visually capturing and expressing encounter, mobility, love and freedom.
This work sits seamlessly with Council’s successful application to the Geographic Names Board to have a new precinct in central Leichhardt renamed Little Italy.
Italian Heritage - growing the collection
To align with these new public artworks - we would love to hear your stories of Italian Leichhardt in the 50s and 60s. Tell us about your families experience of chain migration. We’d also love to hear from people who rode a vespa in the early years of its introduction into Australia.
Your stories will become part of Inner West Councils Community History collection for future generations of the Inner West to enjoy. Email history@innerwest.nsw.gov.au
A Car on Two Wheels
We'd love to hear about your vespa recollections of Leichhardt. We are especially on the hunt for stories of vespa love from the 50s and 60s to inform the Local History collection on Italian Leichhardt.
The Vespa story emerged after WWII, when poor roads and a diminished car industry created the perfect conditions for the creation of a modern, inexpensive vehicle. The Piaggio family redesigned one of Enrico Piaggio’s aeroplane engines to make a two wheel vehicle that was both affordable to produce and buy – helping Italians to get around again. In 1946 this new innovative mode of transport was presented to the general public in Rome. An egalitarian vehicle, the “scooter” design was intentionally included to accommodate female riders in skirts or dresses.
A 1949 ad selling Vespas from a car yard located at 80-84 Parramatta Road, Stanmore shows they were in the inner west fairly soon after their release in Rome. In the 50s and 60s State Rail bought Vespas for its service fleet, and in the late 60s – Australia Post imported the Piaggio 150 Super for its posties.