Sydney is bracing itself for a plague of gigantic snails – all in the name of public art. Part of the City’s 12th annual Art & About Sydney festival, Snailovation will see 24 gigantic neon-coloured snails slither their way into iconic locations around the city.
The quirky sculptures will be installed in major public spaces, including Hyde Park, Martin Place and Customs House Square, to encourage Sydneysiders to play with our city.
“These giant snails will bring a sense of fun, culture and creativity to our city,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“Made from recycled plastic, this visually arresting project encourages people to think of their environment.”
Snailovation is part of the Regeneration Art Project, which places intriguing, large, coloured animal installations in a variety of unusual spaces across the globe to inspire people to see their cities in a different light and encourage the creation of more sustainable environments.
Created by international artistic collective, Cracking Art Group, each snail measures 3m x 1.8m x 2.3m and weighs more than 100kg.
The Italian, Belgian and French artists have previously made visually arresting giant turtles, meerkats, rabbits and penguins for the Venice Biennale and Miami Art Basel. Following the festival, each snail will be broken down and recycled.
Art & About Sydney runs from 20 September to 20 October 2013. For more information, visit: www.artandabout.com.au for details.
