Originally this sculpture was in Sydney, at Walsh Bay, but it was donated by Brett's widow, Wendy Whiteley, in memory of their late daughter, Arkie. With some info from Wikipedia: (
visit link) Brett Whiteley (1939 - 1992), was an Australian avant-garde artist, with many paintings, drawings, and sculptures in galleries around the world. He had won multiple Archibald, Wynne, AND Sulman art awards/prizes.
He had made a smaller version, "Black Totem", which stand less than 3 metres tall. And it seems that his widow, Wendy may have finished this one, before it was placed at Walsh Bay in central/northern Sydney in 1993.
There is another great photo of the sculpture at: (
visit link)
Standing 11 metres tall, it is hard to appreciate the work put into arranging the nest that so lovingly holds the gigantic [fibreglass] egg.
From a plaque, below the sculpture:
"Brett WHITELEY
born 1939 Sydney NSW, died 1992 Thirroul NSW
Black Totem II 1993
cast steel, steel rods and fibreglass
Donated by Wendy Whiteley in memory of Arkie Whiteley
through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program 2013
Assisted by James & Judy Hart and John & Valerie Ryan
Newcastle Art Gallery collection
Sculpture created by Brett Whiteley and posthumously completed by
Wendy Whiteley, Matthew Dilton & Transfield in 1993"
Visited: 7.35 am, Sunday, 8 November, 2015