Bower, Sculpture at Barangaroo, 2017
Bower is a smudge on the horizon, a hatch traced in the air with charcoal. Inside, an intimate cradle from which to observe the natural landscape of Barangaroo. The feminine qualities of the nest acknowledge the Eora tribral women whose name is given to the park.
The artwork creates a cave for reflection; an opportunity to inhabit the view. It invites the passers-by to climb in and settle. The living womb and the enveloping charred exterior signify forces of renewal and extinction in the primordial landscape.
Exhibited: Sculpture at Barangaroo, Sydney 2017
Private Collection: Cranbrook School, Sydney
Dimensions: 9m x 3m x 3m
Location: Sydney, Australia
Lead Artist: Juan Pablo Pinto
Team: Mercurio Alvarado, Seb Guy, Jed Long
Engineering: Event Engineering
Sculpture at Barangaroo returns to Barangaroo Reserve from August 5-20, presented in partnership with the Barangaroo Delivery Authority and Sculpture by the Sea. The visually stunning, free-tothe-public outdoor exhibition will surprise and delight Sydneysiders and visitors as they explore the greenspace at Sydney’s most spectacular harbour foreshore reserve.
Bower is a smudge on the horizon, a hatch traced in the air with charcoal. Inside, an intimate place to observe and be embedded in the natural landscape of Barangaroo. The feminine qualities of the nest acknowledge Bennelong’s wife (the name sake of the cove).
Using giant grass, the artwork creates a temporary cave for observation and reflection; an opportunity to inhabit the view. It invites the passer-by to climb in and settle. The contrast between the charred outside and the fresh inside tie with a primordial landscape. It recalls a time before the fire, the same way the burnt log recalls a tree. The untouched interior is a place of comfort, a seed pod.