Weirdly simple and simply weird is how this brilliant new structure is being described. Do not adjust your screens, you are looking at a masterpiece, a container rainbow. Or containbow. This artwork – nine colourful containers suspended above the air – has modestly been named “Rainbow”.
Rainbow is valued at over AUD145,000 and is nine meters high. This is the largest piece of artwork commission by the City of Fremantle and it proudly sits at Beach Reserve on Canning Highway.
image credit: http://www.fremantle.wa.gov.au
Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said he hoped Rainbow would spark debate and conversation.
“It’s big, it’s bold and colourful and very Freo. As a city of artists we have commissioned a dynamic artwork that has been conceived, engineered and produced in Western Australia and represents the ingenuity of our arts industry.
“I hope Rainbow will not only foster conversation and debate but will put a smile on the faces of locals and visitors and remind us of just how lucky we are to live in such a great place. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Rainbow emerge to become one of the most talked about and photographed landmarks in the region in the months and years to come.
“Like all good pieces of art it will mean different things to different people. For me it represents a variety of things including Fremantle’s strong links to the sea, a celebration of Freo’s renowned arts and culture scene and also a strong statement of hope for greater diversity, tolerance and compassion in society,” Mayor Pettitt said.
Artist Marcus Canning said turning his concept into reality had its challenges from an engineering and construction point of view.
“It was always going to be a challenge to connect nine sea containers and make them hover in an arch which at its apex is nine metres above the ground. The result is 66 tonnes of wow,” Canning said.
“Nothing like this had ever been attempted so we’ve had to come up with some innovative ways of joining the containers together and worked with some brilliant companies and contractors bringing the vision to reality. One of the structural engineers working on the project refers to the structural form as being weirdly simple and the sculpture itself as being simply weird. I really like that description of Rainbow – weirdly simple and simply weird.”
The artwork was constructed on Friday the 12th August and if you have a spare few hours you can watch the construction video here..
We hear that the Rainbow even lights up at night. Send us your pictures of the Rainbow directly to our social media team.
Source credit: City of Fremantle
