Normal text sizeLarger text sizeVery large text size
We’re shining a spotlight on Brisbane people and businesses making noise on social media.See all 3 stories.
No, you’re not seeing things. There are indeed sculptures of bin chickens holding tattoo guns and XXXX beer cans – even wearing headphones – dotted around Brisbane.
The latest one to pop up is holding a snag in bread and is located at – you guessed it – Bunnings.
These metal ibis sculptures, aptly named Binnies, are the work of local artist Ryan Forster, aka Sethius Art. For years, he’s been creating a unique art trail from Caboolture down to the Gold Coast.
Artist Ryan Forster talks to Brisbane Times in front of one of his installations.Credit: Brittney Deguara
“I thought [the ibis] was going to be about the most Queensland thing I could think of, and it really just took off from there,” he told this masthead while admiring his latest instalment at the newly reopened Bunnings Oxley.
“Overall, I’ve made about 170 Binnies across different sizes … There are around 40 [for public viewing].”
One is holding scissors, another a tattoo gun. “And then people buy them just for their poolroom at home.”
Take a road sign, not art
The passion project began by bending a few rules, with Forster installing Binnies in various locations “on the sly”. Most of those, however, have since gone missing – removed either by security or people with sticky fingers.
“Sometimes they just fly away … it’s really disheartening,” he said.
“Obviously, it’s a compliment to me that people love it so much they’d steal it, but it’s taking it away from the public.”
The latest to involuntarily flee the flock was holding a bucket of popcorn at Dendy Cinemas at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
“People might be stumbling home drunk and see something and think, ‘I want that’,” he said. “I understand that mentality, but take a road sign, go old school, don’t steal art.”
For those who might be reading this on the couch with a Binnie sitting next to them, Forster has a simple message: “Bring it back, do the right thing, let everyone else enjoy it.”
The Bunnings Binnie
Forster’s latest Binnie is firmly secured to a pole at Bunnings Oxley’s new sausage sizzle area. It wasn’t where he initially envisaged it when he launched his campaign for the hardware giant to adopt one.
Forster’s latest Binnie, on display at Bunnings in Oxley.Credit: Brittney Deguara
“I’ve always just had this vision of one of my bin chickens sitting up on the corner, up on the roof, probably holding a hammer or a snag, so I reached out.”
The internet also got behind him, tagging Bunnings to turn his vision into a reality. While it would have been a hazard if Binnie made it to the roof, the store made him a nice home a little closer to the ground.
“It’s a bit of a communal spot where people can come, they can see Binnie, they can take a photo with him, and have a snag while they’re at it,” Forster says of the new location.
He credits this win to the online community who got behind it.
“People love jumping on a bandwagon like that. Everyone was pretty much backing Bunnings into a corner saying, ‘you have to do it, you have to do it, it’d be un-Australian not to’.”
‘This is a Brisbane thing’
Forster has mastered the art of making these metal sculptures, taking just four days from start to finish. Using a template, he just needs to get creative with what he’s holding – that’s the part, he says, where he gets to be an artist.
“If it’s [for] a tailor shop, it could be holding scissors, if it’s a fish and chip shop, it could be holding a fish. And that’s a big part of where I get to enjoy a little bit of creativity.”
And they’re built for the elements, finished with metal paint. Forster says they’ll be standing strong for decades.
There isn’t an exact map of his Binnies, but Forster says the joy is in driving around and seeing one out of the corner of your eye. Brisbane is the only place you can do that – and Forster has no plans to expand his creative operation.
“I have such big ideas about where this city is heading and what it can look like, especially ahead of the Olympics,” he said.
“I’m really focusing all of my time and energy on making this city as amazing, vibrant, creative and colourful as I can.”
Forster is biding his time until he can make the big one: “We’re thinking Big Banana, Big Pineapple, Big Binnie … I’m talking 10 metres, at least.”Credit: iStock / Supplied
Any Binnies popping up in southern cities have been purchased, not donated.
“I’m kind of shunning the rest of the cities, to be honest … this is a Brisbane thing.”
Expect more Binnies to pop up around the city while Forster bides his time until he can make the big one.
“We’re thinking Big Banana, Big Pineapple, Big Binnie … I’m talking 10 metres, at least.”
What is Brisbane’s Social Scene?
Brisbane Times is shining a spotlight on Brisbane people and businesses with a following on social media – from viral videos of your local butcher to a popular craft movie night.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.