Cloud Arch

Cloud Arch is a proposed public artwork by Junya Ishigami for George Street, Sydney.

The sculpture is proposed to be a ribbon of twisted, white stainless steel, representing the shape of a cloud, originally designed to be 58 metres (190 ft) tall and with a span of 53 metres (174 ft). It is intended to "frame" the Sydney Town Hall, and be visible from all approach directions as part of the pedestrianisation of the street. A light rail line running up George Street is under construction and would run through the arch.[1] The feet of Cloud Arch will be placed on diagonally opposite corners of one of Sydney's busiest intersections, George and Park Street; the sculpture will stand among the Town Hall, the Queen Victoria Building, and The Galeries Victoria.

Originally it was to be installed in 2019 but due to the increased costs ($22m, over the initial estimate of $9m) and disputes about site access during the construction of the light rail, planning for the project was postponed until 2020.[2][3]

Announcement

The sculpture was announced on 29 July 2014 as part of a $9 million package of public artworks for Sydney. Cloud Arch was originally expected to cost $3.5 million.[4] The four other artists shortlisted for the George Street sculpture were New Zealander Bill Culbert, Song Dong of China, Australian Mikala Dwyer, and Ugo Rondinone of Switzerland.[4] Announced at the same time were Pavilion by Hany Armanious, a 13-metre-tall (43 ft) milk crate to be placed in Belmore Park, and The Distance of Your Heart by Tracey Emin, to consist of 60 bronze bird sculptures perched on poles and above doorways in the northern end of the central business district.[5] Development applications for the sculptures were to be lodged by the end of 2015.

Remodelling

In 2017, the design was remodelled as a result of the original being incompatible with requirements of the new light rail infrastructure running beneath it.[6] Trams will pass beneath the arch as part of the new south east light rail network, which links Circular Quay and Central Station through George Street. The sculpture's new design was necessary to compensate for the subterranean changes. It requires more steel, is wider and heavier than the one originally proposed (now at 53 metres wide using 140 tonnes of steel, rather than 28.5 metres wide using 58 tonnes).[7] The increased width and the rise in cost from the initial expectation of A$3.5 million to $11.3 million, explained as due to changes in the price of steel since 2015, were both criticised, although it was pointed out that the city spends two-thirds that amount every year for temporary works for Sydney New Year's Eve.[8][9] On 29 August 2017, a six to four majority of city councillors voted to approve the sculpture.[6] It was originally expected to be completed by March 2019, to coincide with the original planned opening of the George Street light rail line.

Critical response

Immediate reactions to the announcement of the sculpture were broadly supportive, with positive responses from professional critics,[10][11] one of whom wrote: "its dance like thrown ribbon in the sky, will excite Sydney's municipal heart, a lasso to the heavens".[9] Popular reaction was dominated by dismissive similes – comparisons of Cloud Arch to everyday objects, and whimsical nicknames for the work, such as "space noodle".[12][13][14] However, as one writer explained: "Good art makes us see something anew. It's not about money, or tourism, or popularity. It's about insight – and if it comes with delight and wit, all the better."[9] During the December 2018 city council debate to defer the project it was described by opposition politicians as a “ridiculous vanity project”,[15] the same week The Sydney Morning Herald ran an editorial strongly defending the project.[16]

See also

References
  1. Robertson, James (29 July 2014). "George Street sculpture revealed in $9m public art spending spree". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  2. Saulwick, Jacob (6 December 2018). "Sydney's $22m Cloud Arch sculpture another victim of light rail delays". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  3. Dunne, Nathan (15 December 2018). "'It's what makes the city your city': Sydney's battle for public art". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
  4. "Spectacular new artworks to transform the city centre". Media Centre. City of Sydney. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  5. Neutze, Ben (29 July 2014). "Sydney to get 50m 'Cloud arch' for George Street". Daily Review. Crikey. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  6. Visentin, Lisa (29 August 2017). "City of Sydney's Cloud Arch sculpture approved in fiery council meeting". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  7. Hall, Louise (25 August 2017). "More Cloud Arch: Remodelled design is wider, heavier and more than three times the price". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  8. Visentin, Lisa (24 August 2017). "New Cloud Arch: bigger and triple the price". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  9. Farrelly, Elizabeth (8 September 2017). "Stop the name calling and let's talk art: Cloud Arch will excite Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  10. Farrelly, Elizabeth (29 July 2014). "Do Clover Moore's new sculptures do the trick?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  11. Robertson, James; Taylor, Andrew (30 July 2014). "Giant cloud sculpture for George Street leaves critics and public split". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  12. "'Cloud Arch' sculpture coming to Sydney: Like it or loathe it?". SBS. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014.
  13. "George St sculpture Cloud Arch gets Sydney talking". News.com.au. 29 July 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  14. Esposito, Brad (29 July 2014). "12 Things That Look Like The New Sydney #Spacenoodle". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  15. Gorrey, Megan (11 December 2018). "'Vanity project': Clover Moore feels the heat over $22m sculpture fail". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  16. "Mayor must not compromise on Cloud Arch". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 29 December 2018.

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