Bendigo artists have found an innovative way to draw attention to contested local political decisions.

A group of installation artists have been using milk crates to create humorous and political art statements.

The people behind the installation art form a group called Crate Man.

While supporting the Bendigo Discovery Centre, they are also protesting funding cuts to La Trobe University’s Bendigo campus.

The current caretaker of Crate Man, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells upstart that his role is to challenge and inspire other artists.

“Crates are staple living requirements for students here in Bendigo. They are used for storage, as bed frames, and as other furniture students require, yet cannot afford to pay for,” he says.

“Each Crate Man is dedicated to when students either begin university, or graduate from university here in Bendigo, and for them transitioning into a new phase of life.”

The caretaker says there is a large volume of people keen to contribute to the project.

“It is a mass collaboration between past, current and introducing new students into what has become a tradition of public art within Bendigo,” he says.

Each piece takes a lot of effort to produce, and must be carefully considered.

The artists must work out how to secure the artwork, how the location will impact the sculpture, and how the piece will be received by the local community.

To build the sculptures, the artists have to gather enough crates, and ensure they adhere to their colour schemes.

They use cable ties and ropes to secure the installation in place.

They must also consider whether there is a way to incorporate humour into the project, whether that be by adding a tutu to the Crate Man, or to have the artwork walk a dog.

Crate Man has developed a strong following among Bendigo residents, and is regularly reported on by local media.

The group doesn’t seem fazed by the fact that their art crosses into moral and legal grey areas.

The caretakers recalls instances where they’ve encountered local police while installing the art.

He says the police didn’t seem worried about what they were doing, but were instead fans of the group’s artwork.

It’s clear that the group has a passion for producing unique and topical art in central Victoria.

“We are about pushing the boundaries of what people think art is, and I like to think that Crate Man is an art form that pushes boundaries by blending humour and pursuing political ideals in art,” he says.

“Art shouldn’t be just about what is looking pretty, it is also about social commentary on what we believe in society, and a way we can confront our strengths and weaknesses.”

Director of the La Trobe Institute, Neil Fettling, accentuates the importance of regional and rural artists, in particular those behind Crate Man.

“They work with new technology to push the boundaries of contemporary art, and quite often, the good ones link the two,” Fettling tells upstart.

The caretaker says that their artwork near the Lansell Cascades in Rosalind Park, which was installed in December 2013, is his favourite.

“We managed to get away with producing an artistic piece in a place that has high public exposure, and the response we had from the local media, and our friends, was well beyond what I ever thought we would get from doing something like this,” he says.

“It galvanised my ideas on how bringing Crate Man back can have an have an impact within my local community of Bendigo.”

The future of Crate Man remains a mystery.

The caretaker refuses to disclose any details of future projects, but he assures that there will be more to come.

Sean Fanning is a Masters of Journalism Innovation student at La Trobe University. You can follow him on Twitter here: @sfanning_benigo.