In a powerful act of remembrance, a monumental effort is underway to preserve the sea of flowers left in tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack. An artist and a dedicated team of volunteers are meticulously transforming three tonnes of blooms into a lasting memorial artwork.
A Painstaking Process of Preservation
The project began on Christmas Eve in a 400-square-metre warehouse in Sydney. The first challenge was the environment itself, with initial temperatures soaring above 30C and intense humidity creating a stifling 'hotbox'. The scent from the thousands of slowly drying and decaying flowers was initially so overpowering that volunteers needed masks to enter.
Led by senior curator Shannon Biederman from the Sydney Jewish Museum, the team devised innovative solutions. They deployed fans and dehumidifiers to combat the heat, used construction fences to hang-dry the flowers, and borrowed bricks to press delicate petals. "It's been exhausting, it's been hard, but it has been worth it," Biederman stated.
Every single flower species, from zigzag wattles and bougainvilleas to gumnuts and Singapore orchids, is being diligently identified, catalogued, and colour-coded before being carefully boxed for the future.
An Artist's Vision for Every Petal
At the heart of the project is Nina Sanadze, a Jewish artist determined to honour the tributes with profound care. Her vision extends to repurposing every element of the floral offerings. Petals are being ironed or pressed, sunflower pollen is processed into pigment, and even fallen leaves scattered on the warehouse floor are collected for use.
"Every little petal, people will go look for the right place. It's just a testimony to the care that people have," Sanadze explained. The community response has been overwhelming, with up to 50 volunteers now assisting daily, some driving for hours to contribute. Volunteer Alana shared her motivation: "I wanted to do something that was meaningful and useful. I couldn't think of anything more beautiful than keeping the flowers and turning them into something of beauty so we can remember."
A Legacy of Hope and Unity
The preserved flowers will form the basis of a permanent commemorative artwork to be displayed when the Sydney Jewish Museum reopens in early 2027. While the final form of the piece is yet to be determined, Sanadze is committed to engaging the wider community throughout its creation.
The project also looks to the future in a literal sense. The team hopes to collect and replant seeds left over from the drying process. As Sanadze poignantly notes, there is nothing like a garden "to give us hope for the future." Biederman reflects on the broader significance: "I do think it means a lot that they are preserved for posterity and that they're there is hopefully an expression of unity among all Australians."
By next week, the immense task of boxing the final flowers will be complete, concluding the initial phase of a project that transforms grief into a enduring symbol of community resilience and remembrance.
