‘Hideous’ sculpture slammed as Torrens home sunk

A $2.35m monolithic sculpture gifted to the city is now bound for the corner of a busy Adelaide road — as it’s compared to something from a horror movie.

An artist impression of how the sculpture would look at its proposed new home on the corner of Montefiore Rd and War Memorial Dr. Picture: Supplied

• Statue stuck in Sydney — year after it was meant to be installed
• Special route needed to bring statue to Adelaide

A “hideous”, $2.35 million sculpture once proposed to rise from the River Torrens is set to be relocated to War Memorial Drive because it is too complex, big and expensive to install in the water.

Adelaide City Council community and culture associate director Anne Rundle said at a committee meeting on Tuesday the aluminium statue, which is about 15m high and weighs about 5000kg, would be installed next to Tennis SA, at the northeast corner of Montefiore Rd and War Memorial Dr.

Philanthropist Basil Sellers donated the piece, previously called Uniting a Nation but now currently untitled and valued at $2.35 million, by renowned artist Terrance Plowright in January last year.

It would be part of the permanent collection of the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Ms Rundle said the sculpture would complement the Adelaide Oval and Memorial Drive Park.

“At this location, the sculpture will provide a spectacular entrance to the sporting and event spaces … in the city,” Ms Rundle said.

“The art gallery’s intention was to show a connection between sport and art.”

The change of place would reduce the annual maintenance cost of the statue from $50,000 to $30,000.

The new location meant the size of the sculpture could be reduced or adapted to help with wind resistance.

The council would engage with the State Government, Tennis SA and other stakeholders, as well as conduct an engineering review.

Some councillors laughed at new artist impressions, asking whether it could knock back the statue, which should have been installed in May last year.

Cr Alex Hyde said the sculpture was not easy on the eyes.

“This thing is hideous,” Cr Hyde said.

He asked if the council had tried to pass it on to another council in the metropolitan area.

Cr Anne Moran suggested Burnside Council, jokingly, as an option, saying it would “love it”.

She raised concerns about the sculpture distracting drivers.

Cr Jessy Khera told The City after the meeting he thought the community would not approve.

“It looks like something out of Alien vs. Predator, only they would both run away from it,” he said.

“I am glad it has been moved from the water.”

Artist impression of the sculpture when it was proposed for the River Torrens. Supplied

Art Gallery of South Australia spokeswoman Lindsay Ferris said the sculpture would complement the redevelopment of Tennis SA and Adelaide Oval and add to the riverbank’s culture.

“The time frame to deliver the project remains subject to consultation with stakeholders, site investigations and approvals,” Ms Ferris said.

“Further information on the project will be shared when available.”

Ms Rundle said she was told by an art gallery representative the piece “in its reality, it is a beautiful thing”.

The Advertiser reported the installation was running a year behind schedule because a route from NSW that doesn’t encounter any bridges, wires or tunnels had not been finalised.

The sculpture was commissioned after a “handshake” agreement between Mr Sellers and former NSW arts minister, George Souris.

But a Sydney Harbour site could not be agreed on.

Negotiations stalled after Barry O’Farrell resigned as NSW premier and his replacement Mike Baird dumped Mr Souris from the front bench.