Slow But Steady
Artist: Chance Purpose
As a riff on Kintsugi – the Japanese art of ceramic restoration – the design of my Whale Tale brings together broken ‘pieces’ of two separate stories and gilds their intersection. The black pieces represent fear, emptiness and decay – a not-so-subtle nod to oil spills and a broader statement on environmental preservation. The pink pieces represent compassion, tenderness and creativity – as I believe the response to our climate crisis will require equally nuanced and thoughtful solutions. Pink also evokes an underlying sense of femininity and, as they say, the future is female. Our environment – and society at large – will be much better off when we have more female world leaders in power. On a practical note, the pink/black/gold colour combination is quite alien to coastal environments and the harbour, so I chose this dynamic colour palette to help visually demarcate the work from the surrounding harbour foreshore.
Chance Purpose
Based in Woolloomooloo, Chance Purpose is an Australian sculptural artist who “destroys to create”. Practicing under a pseudonym that doubles as an approximation of his process: smashing readymade porcelain heirlooms and antique ceramics then repairing their remains to create new works of intention and purpose. His work deals with themes of material value, physical damage, subjective transience and impermanence.
Like Chance Purpose’s art, Sydney’s new Waterfront Precinct is a place where unexpected things meet. Old and new; work and play; night and day. Here in Hay Street, Powerhouse Museum meets China Town. Market City meets Darling Square. UTS campus meets Laneway Bars. Red brick meets glass and steel. Tourists meet commuters meet students meet residents and theatre goers here. While the people of Sydney may be aware of the Tank Stream that flows under Pitt Street into Circular Quay, and which provided early Sydney with a fresh water supply, few know of the second stream of fresh water that still flows beneath Hay Street, from Haymarket to Darling Harbour. Now enclosed in a monumental sandstone drain beneath the paving, this was an important water supply to the Aboriginal clans around Darling Harbour, and also supplied water to the steam machinery.
First Nations Audio Narrative: With thanks to our Indigenous Cultural Advisors, Aunty Jo Selfe and Uncle Graham Toomey, and special contributors who have generously shared important stories of place. Listen to the First Nations Audio Narrative here.
Charity Auction
Love Whale Tales? Want to keep one?
You can! After the Waterfront Whale Tales trail concludes, all 30 sculptures will be offered for purchase at a dedicated art auction at Sydney Maritime Museum, Terrace Room.
The net proceeds from the auction will go to The Kids’ Cancer Project.
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