To celebrate the Wheeler Centre’s Spring Fling, we asked six beloved Victorian writers to reflect on the theme Above and Beyond: considering what it means to look further, delve deeper, and ask big questions of ourselves and the world around us.

The following is an audio recording from Miles Franklin Literary Award winning novelist, Jennifer Down, reading her original essay for the project.

This work was commissioned by the Metro Tunnel Creative Program in partnership with the Wheeler Centre as part of Spring Fling, presented at venues across Melbourne from 2 to 14 October 2023.

Visual artist ENOKi has created a series of vibrant, visually arresting illustrations in response to the written pieces. This collaborative project is available to view in person at City Square on Swanston from the end of September 2023.

Read the essays in full and discover more audio recordings from the project at wheeler centre.com

Featured music is ‘Now We Gather’ by Joseph Beg.

This work was delivered in partnership with the Metro Tunnel Creative Program.

Support the Wheeler Centre: https://www.wheelercentre.com/support-us/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jennifer Down: The Immortality of the Crab