Wave Length City Beach Residential College
Waves breaking and sand shifting across the dunes on City
Beach were the ever-flowing forces of nature that inspired artist
Jon Tarry to create the dynamic form of his radiant, ultra blue
sculpture ‘Wavelength’. Using computer-aided design (CAD) to
model pencil drawings of these natural phenomena, the sculpture
is extruded along a diametric circumference, forming a looping
ribbon form.
‘Wavelength’ is fabricated from a durable composite carbon fibre
also used for racing yachts and other craft vehicles. The CAD
drawings were fed directly into a Computer Numerical Control
(CNC) machine to create a mould into which the carbon fibre
is layered. Twice the strength of stainless steel but a quarter of
the weight, this 21st century material provides a sense of space,
grace and dramatic poise to the smooth, undulating form.
It was important to both Jon and the architects that the sculpture
is a harmonious counterbalance to the curved architecture of
the building and the terraced garden walls. Set in the cool, green
garden area, the comfortable height of the work encourages
interaction through touch, leaning, and sitting.
The ribbon form touches the ground with a a composite
rubber base in an equally dense blue, providing an overall
monochromatic intensity where the sculpture nevertheless retains
primacy. An up light gives the work a subtle glow at night.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Artist: Jon Tarry
Title: Wavelength
Architect: Iredale Pedersen Hook
Art Coordinator: Maggie Baxter
Photography: Jon Tarry
Client: Department of Education
Department of Finance
Project Manager: Jade Lightbody
Coordinates: -31.9374002 115.77113592576848
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