Free Standing Sculpture (Margel Hinder)
March 4th 2008 07:12
Situated at the top of Martin Place, outside the Reserve Bank.
Its plaque notes, besides title and artist, that it was sculpted in 1964, "assisted by Frank Lumb and Frank Hinder".
I suppose, when I look at it, it reminds me of a whole bunch of things -- of stalactites and stalagmites, of gothic architecture, and also of skyscrapers (which, after all, are also "free standing sculptures"). The holes in the formation are a little like windows.
In places, and looked at in the right way, it has a boat shape or a bat shape, and it can curve like the Harbour Bridge.
Arbitrary spikes producing an overall curve and roundness. -- Form from chaos, and harmony from ugliness.
It frames itself.
It can be towering, and it can be cavernous -- caves within caves.
Intricate, like filigree.
Marks like footprints or handprints, but they could also be natural formations. Many aspects of the sculpture, at least when I look at it, seem to be playing around this idea of human-built / natural, regular / irregular.
The texture is at the same time rough and organic, and artificial, metallic. It's a bit like fossilized wood, or the flowstone from old lava, and it's a bit like cement.
In a sense, everything is "natural", including skyscrapers.
Like some sort of parasite clinging to the building. Or else an extension of the building -- mirrored in it, growing out of it.
Notice, also, the way it alludes to bits and pieces from the surrounding area -- the spires of St Mary's, the shape or colour of a Commonwealth Bank logo or a statue.
And compare it with these sculptures by Robert Klippel in the NSW art gallery.
Its plaque notes, besides title and artist, that it was sculpted in 1964, "assisted by Frank Lumb and Frank Hinder".
I suppose, when I look at it, it reminds me of a whole bunch of things -- of stalactites and stalagmites, of gothic architecture, and also of skyscrapers (which, after all, are also "free standing sculptures"). The holes in the formation are a little like windows.
In places, and looked at in the right way, it has a boat shape or a bat shape, and it can curve like the Harbour Bridge.
Arbitrary spikes producing an overall curve and roundness. -- Form from chaos, and harmony from ugliness.
It frames itself.
It can be towering, and it can be cavernous -- caves within caves.
Intricate, like filigree.
Marks like footprints or handprints, but they could also be natural formations. Many aspects of the sculpture, at least when I look at it, seem to be playing around this idea of human-built / natural, regular / irregular.
The texture is at the same time rough and organic, and artificial, metallic. It's a bit like fossilized wood, or the flowstone from old lava, and it's a bit like cement.
In a sense, everything is "natural", including skyscrapers.
Like some sort of parasite clinging to the building. Or else an extension of the building -- mirrored in it, growing out of it.
Notice, also, the way it alludes to bits and pieces from the surrounding area -- the spires of St Mary's, the shape or colour of a Commonwealth Bank logo or a statue.
And compare it with these sculptures by Robert Klippel in the NSW art gallery.
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