New Reko Rennie installation unveiled at Barangaroo South

Reko Rennie on site with As The Crow Flies at Barangaroo - photo by David VargaAustralian artist Reko Rennie has completed his major site-specific contemporary art installation at Barangaroo South in Sydney’s CBD. The commanding work, As the Crow Flies, is painted over buildings, hoardings and rooftops spanning a 1500 square-metre footprint – the equivalent size of a high-rise city building – and will remain in place for at least two years.

Rennie based the work around the fallen feather of a crow, using this as a repeated motif throughout, explaining: “The feathers mirror a congregation of people – a meeting place of diverse individuals, philosophies and histories – coming together, reflecting the hive of activity that is unfolding in the redevelopment of Sydney’s Barangaroo precinct.”

The large-scale, two-colour installation, in bright cobalt blue and neon pink, has been painted vertically and horizontally onto the exteriors and interiors of a buildings and hoardings in Barangaroo South, between International Tower Three and Hickson Road. The work extends into the entry and exit areas of the main car park and covers rooftops, making the pop-aesthetic inspired installation clearly visible from nearby office towers.

As the Crow Flies was commissioned by Lendlease with support from International Towers Sydney and Dulux, speaks to the indigenous history of Barangaroo and is a poignant reminder of our connection to land. It is part of the Barangaroo Public Art and Cultural Plan that guides the commissioning of public art and seeks to enliven the precinct with landmark artworks that provide an engaging interpretation of the site’s important Aboriginal, maritime and industrial histories.

Reko Rennie is one of Australia’s most respected interdisciplinary artists who explores his Kamilaroi identity through his work, provoking discussion around Indigenous culture in contemporary urban environments. Many Sydneysiders would be familiar with his prominent work, the geometric piece, Always was, always will be, which until recently, was located at Taylor Square in Darlinghurst.

His work is represented in the National Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Koorie Heritage Trust, ArtBank and City of Yarra collections as well as the New Contemporary Art Museum in Jiangsu, China.

For more information, visit: www.barangaroo.com for details.

Image: Reko Rennie on site with As The Crow Flies at Barangaroo – photo by David Varga