Thanks to Patti for the prompt for this week’s Lens-Artists Challenge – Street Art
© irene waters 2019
Few street corners in Brisbane leave you alone to cross the road. This long legged man
© irene waters 2019
and a wolf in man’s clothing are there to keep you company. His stance mimicked those I saw waiting that had perhaps a bit more blood coursing through their veins.
© irene waters 2019
© irene waters 2019
While outside the law courts multiple eyes watched your every movement. Is this what they mean by in the eyes of the law.
© irene waters 2019
Four kangaroos give some light relief on a corner. They made me wait awhile.
© irene waters 2019
Whilst in Sydney the more surreal was to be found.
© irene waters 2019
In an alley way in China town the glowing blue cupids covert sleezey Kimber Lane into a permanent artwork. They are the creation of Jason Wing – who is part Chinese and part aboriginal.
© irene waters 2019
With blue clouds on the walls he wanted to create an experience akin to waking between two worlds or travelling between heaven and earth.
© irene waters 2019
In Manly on the Corso is a life size rhinocerous sculpture named ‘Fragility.’ This 40kg sculpture was one of 125 similar ones installed by Taronga Park Zoo to highlight the plight of the rhinocerous. According to the Daily Telegraph, “the strikingly patterned Manly rhino was created by artist Gloria Torres, who wished to portray a critical view on how humanity has impacted on the animal’s survival.”
© irene waters 2019
Angel Place is an eerie place to go. 120 bird cages are suspended above the laneway whilst songs of birds now extinct or threatened fill the air. This forgotten songs artwork is the creation of artist Michael Thomas Hill.
© irene waters 2019
My favourite Sydney artwork is Little Essex Street in the Rocks. This mural recreates Brown Bear Lane in 1901 and is so lifelike you feel like stepping into the past yourself. My great grandfather came from Scotland to at this time to be a missionary to save the souls in the Rocks and I wonder if he too wandered up Brown Bear Lane. Good excuse to look through his diaries but that will have to wait for another trip to Sydney as they are in the State Library of NSW.
Thanks Patti.
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Brilliant
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Thanks Geoff
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Such great variety of art in this gallery – amazing. The last three ones made me a bit sad, but they are both beautiful and sad – just like life. i have seen the bird cages before, but did not know the story behind them. Wishing you a lovely Sunday.
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Thanks Leya. I think that is the purpose of art – to create emotion and make us reflect. I love the street art – as a child there was very little street art apart from a few sculptures and memorials. Now the whole landscape has become a gallery and I love it.
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I’ve always loved public art, the work of an artist in relation to environment and sometimes to history. Your photos capture the whimsy and joy of these artworks, but also the sense of history as in the mural. My favorite is of the birdcages. I have empty birdcages all over my house.
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I agree that public spaces have now become art galleries and I think it is fantastic that we are exposed to art in our everyday life. Apart from memorials and the odd sculpture (normally of a classical type) we had very little street art when I was younger. I’d love to see your house – I bet you have bits and pieces everywhere along with the bird cages.
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You’re right – too many bits and pieces but i love all of them.
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Absolutely love that last image and your comment about it. How cool that your grandfathers diary is in the museum!
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And there is a monument to him in the Rocks as well. He came at a time when opium dens were common and there were many seamen and criminals living in the area. Abuse of women was common and poverty and disease rife. He kept a very detailed account of his daily visits and what he encountered which made it a valuable document as a social record of the time. Unfortunately you have to sift through a lot of conversion prattle to really get to the interesting parts.
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Wow… amazing street art in Sydney! Thank you for the tour, Irene.
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Thanks Amy. Glad you enjoyed them.
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Wonderful post, Irene. You’ve selected such a wide range of street art. Fabulous! I especially love the bird cages and the sounds of extinct birds. How powerful. And it must be intriguing to have that bit of family history waiting for you in the library! I hope you have the chance to read it.
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Thanks Patti. Yes the bird cages are powerful. Reading the diaries is on my list of things to do but as I don’t live in Sydney it is difficult to come up with the time.. but one day….
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Yes. They could be very interesting.
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I love this post of the many forms of art on the street, Irene. I’ve seen different ones when we were in Sydney. You have a great collection of photos of them.
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Thanks Miriam. Glad you saw some in Sydney. I love that these days public areas have become galleries in themselves.
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I’m sure many artists would rather be commissioned to do some sculptures in the public area than no chance to display their work at all.
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Absolutely.
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🙂
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Noteworthy variety.
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Thanks very much John.
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These are wonderful pictures, Irene. The bird cages are quite creepy without the singing.
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They certainly bring home a message.
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These are great. Sydney is my hometown and I didn’t know a lot of these existed!
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Isn’t that always the way. YOu go away to explore in detail whilst where you live stays a big picture. Hope you have found them for yourself now.
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