An Interactive Sculpture by Wade and Leta Celebrates the Sun-Bleached Australian Landscape

In Sydney’s Circular Quay, a 6.5-meter-tall installation spins, twirls, and totters amid a public thoroughfare. Titled “There, Now, Here,” the kinetic artwork is by the Brooklyn-based duo Wade and Leta and is in almost constant motion, thanks to wind, motors, and willing participants hopping on a see-saw.

With black and white stripes alongside a more muted palette, the colors of the playground-style project reference Dorothea Mackellar’s beloved poem “My Country,” which professes her devotion to the Australian landscape and what she dubs the “sunburnt country.” Harnessing the washed-out tones of a sun-bleached environment, the artists present their signature bold works in more subtle hues, as if the pieces have been baking under the light for years.

a photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta

A sonic component created by Josh Burgess accompanies the sculpture and can be manipulated by the public through accessible controls. “If one were to listen closely, they can hear the rush of water on the rocks, the dings of the light rail, the crosswalk signal, and most importantly, the local wildlife,” the artists say. “Our favorite piece is a nod to the ‘bush doof’ using the sounds of a lyrebird as the structure.”

“There, Now, Here” is the pair’s first public work in Australia and part of the annual light and music festival Vivid Sydney. Find more on Wade and Leta’s Instagram.

a detail photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
a detail photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
animated gifs of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
a detail photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
a photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
a detail photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
animated gifs of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
a photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta at night
a photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta
a photo of a colorful outdoor sculpture with twirling shapes by Wade and Leta

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article An Interactive Sculpture by Wade and Leta Celebrates the Sun-Bleached Australian Landscape appeared first on Colossal.

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