1 February 2011

Profundity at the Pinnacle

| Pommy bastard
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new art

While walking the dogs at the Pinnacle, as is my wont, this morning, I came across Canberra’s latest and most exciting venture into the public arts. Situated just off the track above the public lease which over looks William Hovell Drive, it is bold, confrontative and rather excellent. It consists of five stainless steel posts in an asymmetrical pattern. Each pole is roughly six feet tall, the height of an average man.

What are we to make of it?

The poles, being stainless, suggest perfection. They reflect, but also contain the scene, however as they are round they also distort our perception of the view, forcing us to reexamine our outlook of the area. They are artificial in an area of natural beauty, do they claim man is more capable of producing beauty than nature? They are incorruptible within an area of growth and decay. They display neither craft skill, nor workmanship, however they are an artifice. Their asymmetric placement contradicts fractal natural growth. They are the height of a man, neither overbearing, nor under-aspiring.

All in all, truly beautiful.

As the philosopher Wittgenstein once said; “Ich habe keine Ahnung, was hier vorgeht, geben Sie mir eine Pause. Ist diese Kram oder was?”

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There’s a similar cluster of bare poles on the median of Canberra Ave as you approach the Griffith roundabout from the Kingston side, and another on a roadside in Garran near the shops. I assumed it was reptoids – maybe they’re mocking us through art?

paperboy said :

…or it might be the start of a fence.

For the next big roo cull perhaps?

gospeedygo said :

I really think what the piece is saying to us is the subversive nature of the duality of man. I’ve been reading some stuff by Carl Jung lately and it really opened my eyes. I guess you uncultured swine won’t get any of this stuff. Too cerebral for you people. I guess I’d better cut this explanation short. I’m due to play a noise rock gig with my new limited edition jazzstangmastermoserite and 100 boutique pedals. Then an acoustic gig with barely audible singing. Later suckers.

..that’s what I said… a fence

Thanks for that. I’m much more in tune with my arty side because of your insightful analysis. You might want to look at getting a gig at the National Galery. Such talent is rare indeed.

gospeedygo said :

I think personally from all the time I’ve spent traveling around Europe that I of all people am qualified to comment on these things. Also given that I’ve just finished my bachelors degree, I can spare sometime to school you ignorant bogans in art.

I really think what the piece is saying to us is the subversive nature of the duality of man. I’ve been reading some stuff by Carl Jung lately and it really opened my eyes. I guess you uncultured swine won’t get any of this stuff. Too cerebral for you people. I guess I’d better cut this explanation short. I’m due to play a noise rock gig with my new limited edition jazzstangmastermoserite and 100 boutique pedals. Then an acoustic gig with barely audible singing. Later suckers.

I think personally from all the time I’ve spent traveling around Europe that I of all people am qualified to comment on these things. Also given that I’ve just finished my bachelors degree, I can spare sometime to school you ignorant bogans in art.

I really think what the piece is saying to us is the subversive nature of the duality of man. I’ve been reading some stuff by Carl Jung lately and it really opened my eyes. I guess you uncultured swine won’t get any of this stuff. Too cerebral for you people. I guess I’d better cut this explanation short. I’m due to play a noise rock gig with my new limited edition jazzstangmastermoserite and 100 boutique pedals. Then an acoustic gig with barely audible singing. Later suckers.

Pommy bastard4:39 pm 01 Feb 11

Bloody expensive fence if it is, stainless steel poles for fencing?

…or it might be the start of a fence.

Pollacks’ “Steel Poles” (at a fraction of the price)

Stink pipes for the underground Naval base.

or it could be the artist suggesting that the beauty of nature and the unreal created environment which we generally inhabit are simply poles apart?

A spectacular sight indeed, and an excellent analysis, especially for a Pommy Bastard 😛

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