Woollahra sees New Lindy Lee work

Woollahra Municipal Council announces its major commission by internationally renowned artist Lindy Lee, who will exhibit her new work One Bright Pearl in Blackburn Gardens at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf from 14 December 2022.

Lee is an interdisciplinary artist whose works centre around the interconnections of family, history and identity, often creating large-scale pieces for public spaces that evoke notions of community. Her practice regularly explores her Australian heritage and Chinese ancestry through Taoism, Ch’an (Zen), Buddhism, and philosophies that portray humanity and nature as inextricably linked. Her works are deeply meditative, often revealing themselves through time.

One Bright Pearl, a 260kg mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture measuring 2m in diameter, is one of a series of five works, with the first in this edition installed in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Lee says that “One Bright Pearl is inspired by the ancient Chinese story of the Dragon’s Ball, which is a symbol of universal wholeness, well-being, wisdom and spiritual power. During the day, the sculpture’s surface, with its mirror brightness, absorbs and reflects the fleeting and ever-changing pageantry of the surrounding world: the movements of people, sky, landscape, birds etc. At night, the work will be internally lit to allow light to flow back out into the world. The sculpture’s different changing daytime and night-time qualities embody the cyclical nature of time”.

One Bright Pearl symbolises Woollahra’s diverse community and reflects on new beginnings and modern migration. It is a significant commission by Woollahra Council with principal support from The Carla Zampatti Foundation and other commission donors.

The Mayor of Woollahra Cr Susan Wyne says of the commission that, “With so many people visiting Woollahra Gallery, Murray Rose Pool and Blackburn Gardens, we hope this sculpture will be enjoyed by all”.

Lee’s body of work was selected by Woollahra Council’s Public Art Panel comprising of Wyne, former Mayor Cr Toni Zeltzer, Director of Art Gallery New South Wales Michael Brand, Jillian Broadbent AC, David Gonski AC, Scott Perkins and curator Holly Williams.

The work is showcased overlooking the Sydney Harbour and Redleaf Beach, adjacent to Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf which celebrated its first anniversary in November with the launch of the 2022 Woollahra Small Sculpture Prize Exhibition.

Lee is represented in Sydney by Sullivan + Strumpf ; in Melbourne by Sutton Gallery ; and works extensively on public art projects with Urban Art Projects (UAP) in Brisbane, Shanghai and New York.

Blackburn Gardens is accessible day and night to the public.