Artists Michael Shiell and Billy Blackall worked with the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative youth group and other local students to create three large platypuses on the dry bed of Lake Wendouree.

Regional arts development officer and project co-ordinator Verity Higgins said that the project was always intended to be an aerial image.

"I hope it will make people think differently about the lake, water issues and aboriginal heritage," she said.

Mr Shiell said the exhibition would promote a postcard available featuring imagery of the artwork and show the design and installation process.

"It's an acknowledgement of all the work that's gone into the project," he said.

"As an artist, it's great to see a work of this size realised."

Year 9 St Patrick's student Alex Shaw-Rose worked as a `digger', creating channels around the outline of the platypuses and filling lines with sand.

"I was only new to Ballarat, so I thought I better get into the community," he said.