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.
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.
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:
Interesting post and photos, I love the fish sculpture!
I will have to agree with Eileen.
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.
Festivals and games what a fun post
Great post. Thanks for all the info. Very nice.
Great shot!!!
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
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.
A very interesting story about the fish sculpture(s). Blenny has a cute face.
interesting piece of art. In the currumbin sanctuary, I also saw one with lots of fish. You Aussies must love your fish.
They certainly did look wonderful the Yarra at the Games.
Thanks for the info ^_^ Happy Sunday!
Frozen delight
The fish is an interesting relic of the games, rusting away as memories of the event fade.
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