Melbourne Daily Photo

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Waltzing Australia

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Architectural Fragment

 
A fallen building?
One could be forgiven for thinking this to be a broken building from the classical Greek era. This bluestone sculpture titled "Architectural Fragment" is the creation of Petrus Spronk. Born in Holland, he immigrated to Austrlia in 1957 and trained as a ceramicist and sculptor in South Australia, He was commissioned to undertake Architectural Fragment for the Swanston Street Walk Public Art Project in 1992, the work was unveiled the following year.

Located outside the State Library of Victoria, this Port Fairy bluestone sculpture represents a fragment of the library emerging from the footpath as an archaeological artefact might. It was conceived to engage with its environment, visually connecting to its surroundings through form and material.

His inspiration was Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias". Quoting from the poem, the pedestal reads: "My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings. Look on my work you Mighty, and despair." Architectural Fragment is a Pythagorean triangle, which expresses a strong association with the geometry of ancient Greece. Like a fallen classical monument, it reflects the past and alludes to the transcience of the present.

Today's Quote: Life is short, the art long - Hippocrates.

6 comments:

brattcat said...

What a creative concept for outdoor sculpture!

Lowell said...

I LOVE this! What an incredibly innovative creation!

Jim said...

I love this. I remember it well.
Sydney - City and Suburbs

Hilda said...

I like it! Okay, so it has 'deep and important' meanings, but I just think it's fun. :)

diane b said...

I remember seeing that on our last visit to M. Thanks for the info.

Leif Hagen said...

A very cool architectural fragment sculpture!

Say now, no St. Patrick's Day photos on your blog??? Party pooper.
: - )

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.