Sunday, 24 April 2022

Sunday Selections #578

 

 
Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 

I usually run with a theme. As I have mentioned before my city has a lot of public art.  I like some pieces, I love others, some I dislike and some I don't understand - but I love that they are there.  When I heard that a new piece had been installed in the city I had to go see.  The new statue was called Big Swoop and was by Yanni Pounartzis and depicted a magpie enjoying a potato chip.  I love our magpies and have often seen them begging for and gobbling down chips.  This is what I saw.





Sadly our beautiful magpie was behind a flimsy barricade.  Less than twenty fours hours after it was installed it was vandalised - and the following weekend it was hit again and has now been removed.  My usual mantra of 'hiss and spit' at things that displease me doesn't begin to cover my feelings.  I am appalled and hope that it can be repaired and replaced somewhere where it is safe from the oxygen thieves who targeted it.  And I also hope that karma pecks them firmly in sensitive places.

Quite close to the magpie there was another statue which is new to me.



It is called Kin by Edison Chen. Kinsugi is a Japanese practice of repairing broken objects with precious metals to 'heal and embrace the damage of the past'.  This sculpture is of a human torso looking upwards with cracks which I believe emit a golden light at night.  I will have to come back and check on that later.  Kin is apparently designed to invite viewers to contemplate the artwork's symbol of healing and, by extension, their own process of recovery.

There are apparently some new murals in and around the city centre too.  I looked for them, but could not find them.  I did find some more colour though.
 

I have no idea what a toucan has to do with Guinness.  Perhaps some of my viewers will know.

This is at one of the mall entrances - and disturbs my sensitive tummy.  I like the colour but....

I will keep hunting for the new murals.  Watch this space.

I hope your weeks are packed with colour and whimsy - and vandal free.




Sunday, 17 April 2022

Sunday Selections #577

 

 
Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 

I usually run with a theme.  This week I am taking you back to Enlighten.  Many of the buildings in the Parliamentary Triangle are illuminated, and have projections (which often relate to their function) shown on them.  There is also usually some quirky fun to enjoy as you wander round.  It is free, and the crowds (diminished due to you know what) are well behaved.  As usual many photos follow.  

We headed in just before sunset and enjoyed some time beside the lake.

 

I really liked the colour and the waterlilies and the frogs on this ordinarily subdued water feature.






 

The National Library.  All of the photos are of the same wall - I was intrigued by the three dimensional effect the projections produced.






 

This avenue of trees is illuminated each year - and I always stop to take photos.


 

This very varied light display was fun.






 

The Portrait Gallery.


 

Old Parliament House - now officially called the Museum of Democracy (but known that way by virtually no-one).



 

Questacon - devoted to Science and Technology.




 

I enjoyed watching these coloured arches change colour too.





 

Finishing up at our National Library.





We spent a happy couple of hours wandering round.  Other years have had more quirkiness, and perhaps better displays, but as free entertainment we applauded.

I hope your week is packed with colour and light.

And for those who celebrate it Happy Easter.

Sunday, 10 April 2022

Sunday Selections #576

 
Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files. 

Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image. 

The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life.  Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle. 
 
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
 

I usually run with a theme.  We have had a lot of 'grey days' here, literally and emotionally so this week I am focusing on glorious colour.

Starting in our Central Business District.  As part of the Enlighten Festival a 'bubble display' was set up next to our Legislative Assembly.  I believe the bubbles were illuminated at night - but they were spectacular during the day too.






Here they are reflected in the windows of the Legislative Assembly - and in some of the photos you can also see the building reflected in the bubbles.



Some of them were big too - as this shot which includes some passersby shows.




 I was in town again last week and that area looks very drab without them.

Shortly after we went to the Van Gogh exhibition we saw an article that said that there was a sunflower maze.  So of course we went.  The maze was on an egg farm - situated about 15km (less than ten miles) from the city centre - which says a lot about my city.  It is the nation's capital but green spaces are never far away.

It was only a maze if you were less than four feet tall but we enjoyed it anyway.  And yes, sunflowers symbolise Ukraine to me.










We enjoyed it, the bees loved it - and I really liked the metal chooks on their gate too.

I hope you find colour, beauty and joy in your week(s) too.