Giant 'cloud' artwork
The City of Sydney has unveiled a 50-metre twisting white steel ‘cloud’ arch sculpture for the city centre as part of a $9 million public art spending spree.
The piece, designed by award-winning Japanese artist Junya Ishigami who described the work as "architecture as air", is one of three pieces of art planned for corners of the city.
Mixed reaction to public art in Sydney CBD
The artwork is to rise diagonally across from the Queen Victoria Building to the Woolworths building and is part of plans to make the heart of Sydney pedestrian friendly.
The light rail network planned for George Street will run underneath the work, which is the showpiece of a $9.3 million suite of public artworks.
Councillor Moore described the design of the steel Cloud Arch that will stand between 50m and 75m high over George Street to frame the Town Hall as "momentous".
"The artworks ... will cement Sydney's reputation as a capital of culture and creativity", Ms Moore said.
The City of Sydney has unveiled a white steel ‘cloud’ arch sculpture for the city centre as part of a $9 million public art spending spree. Photo: Clover Moore
"Taken together the three will activate the centre of the city from north to south and east to west," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Despite Councillor Moore's excitement about the work, Twitter users were divided about how the aesthetics of the artwork will work with the city.
"I mean, why not build a piece of public art that we all like and that also costs no money", read one of the many responses on Twitter.
The 'Milk Crate' is one of three public artworks planned for the city centre as part of a $9 million public art spending spree. Photo: Clover Moore
"Seattle has the space needle, only fair sydney has the space noodle #sydneystatue," said another Twitter user.
"I'm not *bad*, I'm just built that way," a user called Reuben wrote in reaction with the artwork being likened to the curvaceous Jessica Rabbit from Who Framed Roger Rabbit fame.
Plus, this monster upturned milk crate is going to be built in Belmore Park. pic.twitter.com/gjJYYEfeRU
— Annabel Crabb (@annabelcrabb) July 28, 2014
Hmmm…. #sydneysculpture pic.twitter.com/TN7tknzDcW
— Kevin Airs (@KevinAirs442) July 29, 2014
I'm the only one who sees a curvaceous Picasso-esque woman, aren't I? #namethesculpture #sydneystatue pic.twitter.com/O8u5JjexMG
— mary collier (@mtc01) July 29, 2014
The other works planned include a $2.5 million pavilion by Hany Armanious, that has already been dubbed the 'Milk Crate' and will stand in Belmore Park near Central Railway Station.
Controversial British artist Tracey Emin has also been given the nod to create a $2.1 million corridor of bird installations in the area near Wynyard.
