Citizens Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef
The Citizens Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef was designed by Indigenous artist Brian Robinson to symbolise the diversity, resilience and circular continuum of life on the Great Barrier Reef. The mirror finish allows people to recognise their symbolic reflection and reinforces the ethos of removing only memories of this World Heritage destination.
This artwork was made possible by the vision and support of:
• The Australian Government through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• Cairns Regional Council
• Cairns Regional Council through the Embrace 2018 Public Domain Improvement Program
• Queensland Government through Arts Queensland's Backing Indigenous Arts Initiative
• Ports North - Port of Cairns
• Tourism Tropical North Queensland
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Cairns region the Yirrganydji [Irukandji] people and Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people and their continuing connection to the land, the water and the community. We pay respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders and Ancestors.
Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef was established to empower current and future generations of the world with the knowledge, experience and ability to protect and enjoy the Great Barrier Reef. Its mission is to drive and communicate positive action with tangible outcomes for both this World Heritage area and our planet. Become an active Citizen at CitizensGBR.org
The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is a mosaic of some 3,000 coral reefs off the Queensland coast stretching more than 2,300 kilometres from the islands in the Torres Strait south to Bundaberg. Visible from space, it is the world's largest coral reef system and the biggest structure on Earth made by living organisms. The Great Barrier Reef began to form about 20,000 years ago when the world was starting to emerge from its most recent ice age. Science has shown that the sea level around the Australian coast at that time was about 120 metres lower with a coastal plain separating the mountainsfrom the sea.
From: Information sign
The Citizens Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef sculpture at Cairns Esplanade is a 6.5m intricately detailed manta ray.
The artwork is part of a social movement to engage the world in the future of the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef.
The sculpture was designed by well recognised Torres Strait Islander artist Brian Robinson whose iconic artwork anchors Cairns as the primary entry point for visitors to the Great Barrier Reef. It is hoped the structure will inspire those who walk beneath it and see their reflection in its mirror-polish stainless steel to think about their connection to the Reef.
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