Tuesday 23 February 2010

Pyrmont, Waterfront Park, Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis is the name of this sculpture, installed in 2008, that lines the path at Waterfront Park in the inner west suburb of Pyrmont. Jacksons Landing is the name of the residential and commercial property redevelopment that has taken place on the former site of a major sugar refinery which was operated by the Colonial Refining Company, later CSR Limited. The rusted steel barrel is a Digester which was used in the manufacture of Hardboard. According to the sculptor, Anton James: The sculpture is based on the simple observation that the transformation taking place at Jacksons Landing landscape. The pieces that make up "Metamorphosis", like the basic elements of the site, remain constant, only their orientation and one's perception of them changes.

45 comments:

  1. Looks a bit more like a bunch of uncomfortable benches to me!

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  2. Clever idea. Looks cool. Hope the "benches" stay white.

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  3. I too thought the sculpture was a modern bench design.. I like it.

    Any idea what the large rust-colored ball is in the background of the second photo? A leftover piece of the refinery incorporated into the scene?

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  4. They do looks like benches! It's a very interesting sculpture.

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  5. Way back when I used to work at the Refinery. It's great seeing what they've done with the old place.

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  6. Sometimes I wonder about asking creative types to explain their works. The wording often seems to come out over cooked.

    Nice area and good landscape shot of the sculptures (including one of the vats) and the apartments.

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  7. Byron, I had no idea what the giant rusty balls actually were until Julie mentioned they were old vats. I have another shot of them to share later in the week. I assume they must have been part of the rum distillery on this site but I'm struggling to find any information about them.

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  8. Interesting sculptures, they look like extrusions.

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  9. J Bar: Thanks.. I was thinking that might have been Julie's reference as well (so thanks also, Julie)..

    Bill: Like teeth? I've heard the term referred to with teeth and I could kinda see that.. Heck, I might like teeth better than benches!

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  10. May I repost one of these picture on my blog, quoting you as author and linking yor post?

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  11. Jim, I have located my own shots of the vats, but there is no plaque along with the shots. From memory there was no explanation (which I normally photograph too to get the details right). However, there is some wording on the end of the vats which I will try to read later today when I get back. They are beautiful pieces of industrial sculpture.

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  12. I thought they were benches, too. But I do like the modern design. Great shots as always! Hope you have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  13. VP, no worries. Yes, you can use my photos on your blog as long you provide a link back here. Your blog on benches looks interesting.

    Julie, I couldn't find a plaque for this one either. I appreciate any info that you might have.

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  14. I think people sit on these.

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  15. Interesting and confusing. I agree with Steffe!

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  16. "meta" being Greek for "afterwards" and "morphosis" for "development (into a form)" made this entry of yours much food for thought, about where and how we are able to rest, in and throughout our life.

    A nice Tuesday for you.

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  17. What an interesting place. I guess you'd really want to relax into those benches.

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  18. what an interesting sculpture...can you actually sit on each piece??

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  19. I thought they were seats at first, as well. Interesting - haven't been down that way in a long, long time.

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  20. Robert, thanks for adding the explanation of metamorphosis. I was going to put something in there about the meaning but I had so much to cover.

    ewok and Catherine, there are signs here explaining that they are public artwork and have not been designed to be climbed on. The sculptures are located in the garden bed so that somewhat deters people from sitting on them.

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  21. oh those are really cool looking sculptures! :) so aptly named :)

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  22. You always find such interesting things to show us about your city. I am gaining quite an appreciation for your part of the world.

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  23. What a great blog, I love it, it must be one of the most interesting around. I can't wait till you do West Ryde where I was raised.
    I have traveled that goods line into Darling Harbour in a steam engine when my Uncle was an Engine Driver. I shudder to think how many years ago that was.
    Bruce.

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  24. These benches are really eye catching. Very interesting.

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  25. Metamorphosis is an interesting series of sculptures and apt for the redeveloped site. It's great when old industrial buildings are rejuvenated and live again in the form of homes, yet the history remains.

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  26. Interesting sculpture and they do reflect the changing landscape..on the other hand they also look like park benches which have been installed by an incompetent.

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  27. Beautiful place and interesting sculptors. Looks like benches..

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  28. I just love it when properties are repurposed. This is great.

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  29. J Bar: That is neat, it does look like uncomfortable seating.

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  30. What an interesting sculpture. I enjoyed this post and also the others on this page. Great sites to show us.

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  31. Very cool art. I like the Tied to Tide post, too.

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  32. Jim, I hunted around last evening but have not been able to find even the beginning of a string to unravel information about the old whisky vats from the CSR brewing house at Pyrmont. I have one more idea that has just occurred to me, shall go off and research and come back in a little while.

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  33. Rum rum rum ... not whiskey.

    I have learnt a lot about "Inner Circle" rum which was one of the rums distilled here, maybe even the only rum distilled at Pyrmont, from 1901 to 1986. A small group of nonCSR people tried to revive it, but sold out to Lion Nathan in 2007. However, (I think)these are pot stills that were used in the distiling of the Inner-Circle rum production. IC was exclusively for CSR board members and top clients until word got out and it was released to the public in short runs. It won the best rum in the world for 4 years running. Not sure if LN still distil it.

    This is all from my reading. Try this site http://www.innercirclerum.com.au/content.html

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  34. Julie: Quite an interesting story about the refinery... Thanks for the link and the dedicated research..

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  35. Julie, thanks for your efforts in tracking down the info on those vats and the very interesting info on the inner circle. I spent a bit of time researching too and eventually found some very interesting stuff. I was a bit surprised by their actual use and I'll be revealing all in my post tomorrow.

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  36. If my legs are really tired..i'll sit on those sculpture with no problem..:)

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  37. I would have thought they were benches too. I see one of those spheres.

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