Sydney's Lord Mayor - Clover Moore - wants to spend nine million dollars on art forms that she thinks will put this city " on the map ". She seems to be missing the point. Sydney is already a world renowned city and it has two signature items that bring instant recognition on the world stage - our famous harbour bridge and the Opera House.
The Lord Mayor has preselected three items that she expects Sydneysiders will take to their hearts. She nominates spending $ 2.5 million on a thirteen metre fibreglass " Milk Crate " to stand in Belmore Basin. a seventy-five metre " Cloud Arch Sculpture " which will welcome shoppers into Gorge street - and straddle the new light rail tracks - and $ 913,000 on " Bronze Birds " which will be dotted above doorways and arches scattered throughout the CBD.
It has been suggested that all or any of these will quickly establish a " presence " - in a similar way to the Eiffel Tower symbolizes France in the minds of the world. That is simply not the way a connection between art and a city - or a country - happens. Art finds it's own place in the world - not the other way around.
The Eiffel Tower would be a case in point. It was built in 1889 as a temporary structure to feature in that city's hosting of the World Fair - and the citizens of Paris loathed it. It was due to be demolished, but it slowly grew on people's affection - and world reaction made it the icon by which France was recognised.
A similar thing happened here in Australia. An animal unique to this country springs to mind when overseas folk think of Australia - and the Kangaroo gained world attention back in1983 when Australia 11 broke a one hundred and thirty two year grip on the Americas cup by America. The " Boxing Kangaroo " flag is now synonymous with this country whenever Australians do battle on the sporting field.
The Archibald Prize for painting is the top art award in this country and yet the winner is always mired in controversy - because art is recognised differently in human minds. Which is precisely why art in all it's forms is in constant competition and the skills of artists waxes and wanes as their work runs the gauntlet of public opinion.
If Clover Moore's choices get the nod and actually get to be constructed it is inevitable that they will receive a very mixed reaction. Some people will love them - and some people will hate them, and above all - many will question the spending of public money when so many other essentials await funding.
It takes a very brave - or very foolish - soul to try and impose their definition of " art " on the ornery minded folk that call Australia home. When the " right " theme appeals to the nation it needs no help in taking it's place as a lasting icon. That happens - at it's own pace and in it's own time !
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