Tree of Life sculpture on the move from Peninsula Link location
THE much-loved Tree of Life roadside sculpture on Peninsula Link is on the move, prompting a storm of protest on social media.
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE much-loved Tree of Life sculpture on Peninsula Link at Langwarrin is being relocated, prompting a storm of protest on social media.
Work on removing the art work began yesterday.
Within hours of the cranes being spotted at the Cranbourne Rd exit, art lovers took to Facebook to vent their disappointment.
“The only sculpture worth looking at,” Janine Caspar posted on the Frankston Leader Facebook page.
“No. Why can’t they leave it there? I love this sculpture. Why don’t they move the ugly one on the bridge at the start of Peninsula Link?” Jo Perry wrote.
“Leave our tree alone!” Daniel Hablethwaite added.
But some were pleased to see the artwork was being relocated.
“With five sets of traffic lights in under a kilometre along that stretch of Cranbourne Rd, it was never the smartest spot to place a driver distraction,” Sharon Lozsan Hammill posted on Facebook.
HAVE YOUR SAY: What should replace the sculpture? Tell us below
“It should have been situated along an open stretch of the Link like the other artwork.”
The wind-activated kinetic sculpture was created by New Zealand artist Phil Price and installed in 2012 as part of the inaugural Southern Way McClelland Commissions.
The commissions represents a unique partnership between Peninsula Link operator Southern Way and McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery.
Under the deal a new sculpture will be commissioned every two years until 2037.
After display on the road, the works will become part of McClelland’s permanent collection in Langwarrin.
In September 2013 McClelland and Southern Way announced that Gregor Kregar had been awarded a $250,000 commission.
Funding for the sculpture renewal project is provided by Southern Way, a private entity. Peninsula Link is provided toll-free under a Public Private Partnership with Southern Way and the State of Victoria.