Read + Write + Report
Home | Start a blog | About Orble | FAQ | Blogs | Writers | Paid | My Orble | Login
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".

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


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.

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


Arbitrary spikes producing an overall curve and roundness. -- Form from chaos, and harmony from ugliness.

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


It frames itself.

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


It can be towering, and it can be cavernous -- caves within caves.

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


Intricate, like filigree.

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


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.

Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


Free Standing Sculpture - Margel Hinder - 1964


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.

CBA - Martin Place


Commonwealth Bank - Martin Place


Commonwealth Bank of Australia - Martin Place


Mutual Life - Martin Place


CBA Martin Place


Tiffany's - Martin Place


The Sydney Hospital pig


St Mary's Cathedral Sydney


St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney


And compare it with these sculptures by Robert Klippel in the NSW art gallery.

Sculpture No 300 by Robert Klippel


Sculpture No 329 by Robert Klippel




147
Vote
   


Scone Mare and Foal (Gabriel Sterk)

February 4th 2008 03:39
Some shots of the "Scone Mare and Foal", by Gabriel Sterk, unveiled 3 March 1982. Bronze, 1.4 tonnes, 1.7m high and 2.2m long.

Seems to be a lot of butt- and crotch-sniffing going on.

Incidentally, the town of Scone is pronounced not like the pastry, but like "own" (with a "sk" at the front).

Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk


Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk


Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk


Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk


Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk


Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk


Scone Mare and Foal - Gabriel Sterk




120
Vote
   


Piggy back (right) (Juan Munoz)

January 18th 2008 08:03
Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


Piggy back (right) - Juan Munoz - Art Gallery of NSW


My initial reaction, on looking at the work, is to see a war story and brotherhood, simple as that. The plaque reads:

Juan Munoz
Spain 1953-2001

Piggy back (right) 1996
bronze

Mervyn Horton Bequest Fund 1997

Juan Munoz was one of the few figurative sculptors to uncompromisingly explore the history of the body in art through contemporary philosophical ideas and with a remarkably individual vision. In Piggy back (right), the fiction employed in much of his work is here concentrated on two figures, one carrying the other. They are on their way somewhere, in motion, and from the stance of the carrier they are moving quickly -- silently but quickly. As he leans forward to balance his gait, the carrier feels the full weight of the second figure, as if carrying the trials and tribulations of humanity. The textural qualities of the crumpled clothing, the patination of the skin and dark shadows further fix the idea of an impending moment or event. Munoz's technique of using filled-out clothing to effect the shape of the sculpture provides a trace of the body rather than a strict representation. Equally, the surface is reminiscent of fossilised figures, such as those of Pompeii, which brings a slight chill to the skin. Within the movement their attention is diverted from their task as they glance to their right; whatever they were looking at is now departed, the absence of this distraction adding to the suspense present in the work.


Further reading:

-- A nice interpretation here:

"Is one figure helping the other, like St. Christopher carrying the infant Jesus? Are they two aspects of one person? Or is this an image of the artist shouldering the 'burden' of his art?

Muñoz leaves the interpretation of his work open to the viewer, hoping to draw us into the drama that takes place between the figures, their audience, and their surroundings. These two bald, fine-featured and apparently blind figures seem to be intimately involved with one another, but oblivious to us. Perhaps Muñoz is suggesting that a work of art does not exist simply for the visual appreciation of the viewer, but rather has an internal life of its own in which we are invited to participate...

Piggy-Back also explores the phenomenon of silence and the mystery of communication. We can never know what these figures are saying to one another or to themselves or to us. They are intended, says the artist, to be blind, and are as undifferentiated as possible. As human as they may appear to be at first glance, they are not supposed to be realistic. 'The more realistic sculptures are meant to be,' Muñoz has said, 'the less interior life they have.'"



109
Vote
   


'Clockwork dog'

December 25th 2007 04:50
Once again, I have no idea of the artist of this sculpture, nor of its real title. Any such information seems to have rusted away or been covered up by posters or grafitti.

It's located outside the Newtown Town Hall / Newton Neighbourhood Centre


[ Click here to read more ]
100
Vote
   


James Angus on sculpture (Ara Jansen)

December 23rd 2007 04:00
Extracts from an article entitled "Twisted reality", by Ara Jansen, reviewing an exhibition by sculptor James Angus at the Art Gallery of WA until 2 March 2008.

***

[ Click here to read more ]
89
Vote
   


L'altra figura (Giulio Paolini)

December 21st 2007 06:39
95
Vote
   


'Acrobat'

December 15th 2007 04:54
Sculpture - 60 Carrington St - Wynyard - 'Acrobat'
A sculpture from the foyer of the office building at 60 Carrington Street, Wynyard (opposite the train station). I've called it "Acrobat", but I have no idea of the real title or the artist's name.

I suppose what mainly caught my eye is that it's eye-catching (if that makes some sort of perverse sense), though this isn't well-conveyed by the photos. It shouldn't be able to support its weight -- it looks too heavy to be able to stick sideways like that


[ Click here to read more ]
124
Vote
   


A post about the 2007 Sculpture by the Sea Bondi-to-Tamarama exhibition (1 November to 18 November).

This is part 2 of 2. For part 1, click here
[ Click here to read more ]
100
Vote
   


Sculpture by the Sea 2007 - 'wallaroo' by Nigel White
'Wallaroo' by Nigel White
Part 1 of 2. Click here for part 2.

This was the 11th annual Sculpture by the Sea exhibition, Thursday 1 November to Sunday 18 November, along the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk -- the "largest temporary exhibition in the world" (claims the programme). One hundred and six sculptures from 18 different countries, attracting about half a million visitors


[ Click here to read more ]
103
Vote
   


Baby Love (Shu Lea Cheang)

October 16th 2007 01:40
Baby Love - Shu Lea Cheang - CarriageWorks - giant teacups art installation
"Baby Love: Drive Me Drive Me Crazy" -- by Shu Lea Cheang -- at CarriageWorks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, Sydney, NSW from Monday 1 October to Friday 2 November. Further details at the CarriageWorks website and at the Baby Love website. The babies are awake from 10am-12pm and 2pm-5pm, and spend the rest of the time recharging.

Adapted from the website


[ Click here to read more ]
82
Vote
   


The Big Man (Seated Figure) by Tim Kyle

October 14th 2007 04:40
Seated Figure sculpture - Tim Kyle - Seymour Centre NSW Australia - 2007
Shy big guy. Gentle giant.
"The Big Man" -- formerly "Seated Figure" -- 2003 -- by Tim Kyle -- fibre glass, wire, paper -- 220 x 180 x 150cm -- Seymour Centre, University of Sydney.

Now, "The Big Man" is a very weird object -- immediately curious -- children go up to it and stare -- adults touch it (when nobody's looking), to reassure themselves


[ Click here to read more ]
70
Vote
   


Some silly and impressionistic comments on a couple of objects from the 2007 Ranamok Prize for Contemporary Glass. This free exhibition is at the Angel Place Office Tower (near Martin Place) from Tuesday 2 to Sunday 21 October. It then goes to Queensland, then to Bathurst.

More details on the tour, and on the objects, at the website


[ Click here to read more ]
88
Vote
   


Women of antiquity (Anselm Kiefer)

July 20th 2007 01:17
On display at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

From the series "Women of antiquity" (2002


[ Click here to read more ]
110
Vote
   


Sculpture by the sea 2006

Untitled by Amy Podmore
Untitled by Amy Podmore
So, if you don't know of it, it's in Sydney, it's a two-week exhibition, and it's a two-kilometre walk -- from Bondi Beach to Tamarama. There are 108 sculptures by artists from 15 countries. And you've got till Sunday 19 November to go see it


[ Click here to read more ]
157
Vote
   


Moderated by Nonymous
Copyright © 2012 On Topic Media PTY LTD. All Rights Reserved. Design by Vimu.com.
On Topic Media ZPages: Sydney |  Melbourne |  Brisbane |  London |  Birmingham |  Leeds     [ Advertise ] [ Contact Us ] [ Privacy Policy ]