Westfield Hurstville exhibition promotes water sustainability through art, workshops, entertainment

An illuminated lighthouse and Steampunk octopus are part of a 12-day exhibition promoting sustainability coming to Westfield Hurstville. Check out all the cool activities for kids.

A 10m high lighthouse and an illuminated Steampunk octopus are just some of the funky art installations coming to Westfield Hurstville from Friday.

The new exhibition will be unveiled at the shopping centre, which will be transformed into a fusion of art installations, community workshops and roaming live entertainment.

The ‘Sea-stainable Hurstville’ project will run for 12 nights and has been developed as part of the NSW Government’s CBDs Revitalisation Program to create a vibrant and strong 24-hour economy.

The exhibition will reflect Sydney’s local environment and will offer an incredible array of art installations made from recycled materials, including a 10.5m lighthouse made from upcycled sails with an animated rotating light at its peak and a Steampunk-esque illuminated octopus.

A giant eight-legged steampunk octopus drummer, Octopoda is an immersive and interactive installation that is powered by eight massive barrel-drums connected to fully computer light-controlled legs. It will be at Westfield Hurstville from Friday, August 12. Picture: Supplied

Scentre Group General Manager of Brand Activation and Community, Jacqui Waine, said the exhibition aimed to deliver joy and discovery to the Hurstville CBD and inspire the community to take a more active role in protecting and preserving the local river systems.

“Sea-stainable Hurstville is a true collaboration between Westfield Hurstville and local community groups and artists that has been created to reflect the interests and diversity of the local Hurstville community,” she said.

“We know our customers want to be out in physical destinations and enjoy socialising with friends and family, so we encourage everyone to come and enjoy the exhibition day or night.”

A 10m high lighthouse by artist collective Amigo & Amigoh has an animated rotating lighthouse at its peak. The artists have explored traditional boat fabrication techniques and material, using pre-used sails which have been upcycled and stitched to make the Lighthouse body. Picture: Supplied

The giant eight-legged steampunk octopus drummer, Octopoda is an immersive and interactive installation that is powered by eight massive barrel-drums connected to fully computer light-controlled legs.

Adults and kids are invited to bash and crash these drums to activate Octopda’s nervous system and watch his mood come to life.

The installation features over 100m of LED lights and a multi-coloured personality.

The exhibition’s overarching theme of sustainability is designed to focus attention on the wellbeing of the Georges River System, Hurstville’s largest urban waterway.

Georges River Council Mayor Nick Katris has welcomed the activation.

The new exhibition, A Sea-stainable Hurstville will be unveiled at the shopping centre and will transform the city with a fusion of art installations, community workshops and roaming live entertainment. Picture: Supplied

“Sea-stainable Hurstville is just another a great reason for our 200,000 residents who live in Georges River LGA to enjoy and explore one of the finest areas of Sydney, as well as encourage visitors from wider Sydney to discover more of Hurstville,” he said.

“Sea-stainable Hurstville is a fantastic celebration of our commitment to the environment and the Georges River waterway in a way that engages, inspires and educates.

“Together with Westfield Hurstville, we look forward to sharing the stories of the local area in a fun and visually stunning way.”

An evolving art piece, the Humpback is a large wooden humpback whale art piece that invites the community to decorate it with recycled plastics.

The aesthetic of the whale structure will develop throughout the course of the exhibition resulting in a one-of-a-kind Community Art Piece that visually tells the story of ocean sustainability.

The exhibition will run for 12 nights in August. Picture: Supplied

In addition, renowned recyclable artist Rox De Luca has transformed plastic waste found on local beaches into ornate sculptures which have been exhibited all over Australia.

The artworks focus on consumption and waste and rejuvenates waste or debris into jewellery-life threadings on wire.

There will be also an unmissable entertainment schedule for visitors, including roaming live entertainment, a kinetic light-up dancefloor in-centre, and kids’ workshops at Westfield Hurstville designed to educate on river system pollution.

The exhibition also features a partnership with the Sydney Maritime Museum that will see ocean sustainability videos playing throughout Westfield Hurstville and take-home packs for kids.

A QR code in the Community Hub will direct users to learn about Georges Riverkeeper’s latest project to help stop litter and single-use plastics from polluting the Georges River.

The full ‘Sea-stainable Hurstville’ program and more information can be found at Westfield Hurstville website.