The Maze Returns: A Contemporary Revisiting of a Landmark Community Artwork

Greater Dandenong City Council is bringing a much‑loved community artwork back to life with The Maze, a major exhibition celebrating creativity, culture and connection across generations. 

First created in 1991 under the guidance of artist Suesy Circosta, The Maze was a large‑scale papier‑mâché installation built by more than 100 young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in the former City of Springvale. More than 30 years on, this iconic work returns to the community—reinterpreted, expanded and newly activated for audiences today. 

From 7 March to 16 May 2026, visitors can explore two companion exhibitions: 

• The Maze: Reimagined, back ↑ notes – at Walker Street Gallery and Arts Centre 

• The Maze: Past, Present and Legacy – a museum collection exhibition at Heritage Hill Museum and Historic Gardens featuring photographs, documents and original materials from the 1990s project 

Together, these exhibitions invite visitors to reflect on themes of identity, belonging, nature, hope and conflict resolution—and to consider how the questions facing young people in the 1990s still resonate in contemporary life. 

Curated by Miriam La Rosa, the new iteration at Walker Street Gallery features contemporary multidisciplinary artists Fayen d’Evie and Jon Tjhia. They respond to the artwork’s legacy through a collaborative process that puts access and inclusion at the centre. Their contribution includes sensory experiences, shared reflections across generations, and new creative ideas shaped by disability-led approaches. 

The artists describe their approach: “Crafted three decades ago by many hands, The Maze is beloved by a wide community. It asked young people to express who they were and how they understood the world. Those young people are now adults, and today’s youth are searching for their own answers—often with great urgency. 

With our many differences, we are increasingly asking: Who has power? Who shapes the world we inherit? And what can we build together? 

As a work created for the Dandenong community and beyond, The Maze should remain a living conversation. Our shared world is always changing, and so too must our ways of moving through it.” 

The companion museum exhibition provides further context, offering a rare chance to revisit the original materials and memories behind The Maze. It highlights the enduring impact of community‑led art and its ability to create understanding and connection across cultures and generations. 

ENDS