Melbourne Daily Photo

Hello, I created this blog because Melbourne is my city and I want people to see what a beautiful place it is. So come with me on a journey of discovery as we traverse the dining precincts, the culture, the laneways and hidden gems that make Melbourne marvellous.




Waltzing Australia

Sunday 31 January 2010

Scenic sunday - Hooked On Fish

The One That Got Away
This unusual sculpture is one of the 72 aquatic installations used for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games. These "fish" dominated the Yarra River landscape between Princes Bridge and the Swan Street Bridge - a stretch of about 1 km.  Each night during the Games, a spectacular sound and light show took place every hour between 8pm and 11pm - they shimmered and glowed in a dance of coloured lights and fountains, dynamic images drawn in the water spray, and a light show coordinated to music. The water effects moved 36,000 litres of water per minute when operating at full capacity.

This is what they looked and sounded like


The fish were selected to represent each nation competing in the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games - fish, whales, prawns, dolphins and a turtle, with each fish or sea creature sea creature being either indigenous to the country they represented or important to the local economy of that country.

Amber Myers from the River Team researched every fish and marine animal, and they were checked and verified by Dr Martin Gomon, the Melbourne Museum's Icthyologist (fish specialist). These choices were then reviewed by every competing country prior to final inclusion.

 
The "Procession"

After the Games were over, councils across Victoria had the opportunity to net one of the aquatic sculptures and my local coucil has this one -
Seychelles
Seychelles Blenny (Stanulus seychellensis). The 4 cm Seychelles Blenny is a cryptic fish and was featured on the Seychelles 10 cent stamp in 2003. Cryptic fish are those that are often hard to see, either because they hide from view, or because their colouration enables them to blend into the background.

"Blenny" is at Canning Reserve, which is on the banks of the Maribyrnong River and I've passed it many times, always meaning to stop for a photo - this was taken at our Australia Day barbie which was held at the reserve.

To see other participants of Scenic Sunday click here.

Today's Quote: Don't tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don't tell them where they know the fish - Mark Twain.

13 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Interesting post and photos, I love the fish sculpture!

Stefan Jansson said...

I will have to agree with Eileen.

brattcat said...

What a great show they put on! I like the way the fish is swimming over the cars as if we lived in an ocean of air...which in fact we do.

Joe Todd said...

Festivals and games what a fun post

Luis Gomez said...

Great post. Thanks for all the info. Very nice.

Victoria Tsavdaridou said...

Great shot!!!

Three Rivers, Michigan said...

I love your blenny! And I like the way the sculptor addressed the fish's "cryptic" nature by letting the viewer see right through it! He's a beauty, not a term usually applied to real blennys.

Very fun. Nice Mark Twain quote, too.

Three Rivers Daily Photo

Lowell said...

Another of your delightful and informative posts!

This was obviously an exciting and colorful and fun event! I think this is an exquisite fish sculpture and in one shot it does almost seem to blend in with its background.

diane b said...

A very interesting story about the fish sculpture(s). Blenny has a cute face.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

interesting piece of art. In the currumbin sanctuary, I also saw one with lots of fish. You Aussies must love your fish.

Davine said...

They certainly did look wonderful the Yarra at the Games.

Kim, USA said...

Thanks for the info ^_^ Happy Sunday!


Frozen delight

AB said...

The fish is an interesting relic of the games, rusting away as memories of the event fade.

Melbourne Daily Photo

Hello, I created this blog because Melbourne is my city and I want people to see what a beautiful place it is. So come with me on a journey of discovery as we traverse the dining precincts, the culture, the laneways and hidden gems that make Melbourne marvellous.