Dotted throughout the marina precinct, is an expanding collection of carefully selected vibrant outdoor sculptures by celebrated Australian and international artists.
From eclectic to traditional these pieces will catch your eye and start some interesting conversations.
It was on a family trip to Egypt that sculptors Gillie and Marc Schattner were inspired by beautiful hybrid human/animal head sculptures and artwork, where the human then embodies the characteristics of that animal.
Gillie and Marc have always been crazy dog people, with their adoration for pups coming from the loyalty and unconditional love they show to humans. So why not put a dog head on a human body so a person can now obtain these admirable qualities?
Well that’s exactly what they did, and Dogman was born. But Dogman was lonely and needed a companion and it wasn’t long before Rabbitwoman was created, as an unlikely partner for Dogman. In the wild, these two species would not get along – the dog would chase the rabbit and probably attack and kill it.
In bringing these two unlikely companions together as best friends and soulmates, Gillie and Marc tell the tale we could in fact embrace our uniqueness and diversity and we should accept these differences, and not see them as problems.
Referred to by the media as “the world’s most loving artists”, this artistic duo has worked side by side for nearly 30 years, creating art as one and spreading the love they have for each other with the world.
‘We ride together in love’ incorporates two of Gillie and Marc’s most popular sculpture themes, Vespas and coffee. The artists have a soft spot for Vespas, because they give an excuse to hold tightly to one another.
This amazing sculpture has been installed in major cities across the world (and now at Soldiers Point) to show love and acceptance as part of the ‘Travel Everywhere With Love’ project.
“In our art we often say “We go together”. And it’s true, I’m the Dogman and she’s the Rabbitwoman, and we’re riding the Vespa together”, said Marc Schattner.
You can spread the message of Dogman and Rabbitwoman, by taking a photo of yourselves and share it on social media using these hashtags:
#traveleverywherewithlove #dogmanandrabbitwoman #weridetogetherwithlove #soldierspointmarina
ARTISTS: GILLIE AND MARC
MEDIUM: BRONZE
DATE: 2018
Dogman and Rabbitwoman have arrived at Soldiers Point Marina to promote diversity, love, and acceptance.
As unlikely animal-kingdom companions, together they symbolize unity and acceptance – representing all people as one.
Now more than ever is the time for people of all races, religions and beliefs to come together with love. Dogman and Rabbitwoman invite the world to sit with them symbolically at their Table of Love and take the first step to understanding and loving one another. The Table of Love is where we sit, discuss, and solve problems.
The aim of the Table of Love is for complete strangers to join each other and sit down with Dogman and Rabbitwoman and start a conversation. The project will make it around the world as part of a larger global art project, Travel Everywhere With Love, that will be comprised of 100 sculptures to be installed in 100 cities. As part of the efforts to spread this message, the artists encourage visitors to take a photo of themselves and share it on social media using these hashtags:
#tableoflove #dogmanandrabbitwoman #traveleverywherewithlove #soldierspointmarina
By Soldiers Point Marina’s installation of this sculpture, we support and have joined with the sculptors, Gillie and Marc in their massive, global campaign that aims to promote love and peace across the globe. Major cities around the world including, Melbourne, Sydney, London, Singapore, New York and more have all expressed interest in hosting this duo.
“It’s more important than ever that we put our differences aside and protect each other through love and togetherness.” Gillie and Marc
ARTISTS: GILLIE AND MARC
MEDIUM: BRONZE
DATE: 2018
This beautiful piece took approximately 250 hours to complete. This sculpture weighs 60kg and has 240 metres of chain with 12,000 links.
You will find two chain sculptures on the walk, both were designed and made by Queensland artist Mike Van Dam, who constructed the sculptures from 4mm marine grade stainless steel chain in easy handling lengths of 1.5m. The links are then welded together to form an extremely tough and sturdy pieces of art.
This sculpture weighing 240kg, is made up of 950 metres of chain with 47,500 links and was completed in approximately 450hrs.
Made of Australian Bronze, The Brolgas were created by Will Wilson of Willie Wildlife Sculptures.
The graceful and elegant dancing displays of the Brolgas are much admired and have become legendary. Aboriginal legends explain the dance of the Brolga as that of a young maiden who was turned into a graceful bird because of her constant dancing.
Brolgas are thought to mate for life, and pair bonds are strengthened during elaborate courtship displays which involves much dancing, leaping and wing-flapping. During courtship the brolgas make a call like a loud trumpeting ‘kaweee-kreee-kurr-kurr-kurr-kurr-kurr-kurr’ or ‘garooo’. Brolgas usually lay two eggs a year and both male and female build and tend their nest. This is a perfect story as this location is where we host weddings at the marina – visit our wedding page for more information
Did you know?
It is very difficult to measure how fast a particular fish can swim; we can only rely on rough estimates, however the sailfish is undoubtedly fast! Individuals have been clocked at speeds up to110 km/h which is one of the highest speeds reliably reported in any water organism. Due to their ability for incredible jumps and great speed they are highly prized game fish.
Sailfish can appear in a startling array of colours, from subdued browns and greys to vibrant purples and silver. The sailfish can rapidly turn its body light blue with yellowish stripes when excited, confusing its prey and making capture easier.
Their sail is normally kept folded down and to the side when swimming, but it may be raised when the sailfish feels threatened making the fish appear much larger than it actually is.
Divers have observed groups of sailfish working cooperatively using their fins and sails to herd prey into a tight ball. Then at full speed and with fins folded back, the sailfish take turns striking the prey with their bills, circling back to feed on the injured fish.
Currently on loan to another location
Bottle nose dolphins, as the name suggests, have short stubby beaks. Their sleek, conical body varies in colour from a light to slate grey on the upper body to a pale pinkish grey on the bottom part. Bottlenose dolphins measure around 2-4 metres long and weigh 135-650kg.
Dolphins can swim up to 35 km/h and dive as deep as 915 metres. Despite the fact that they live underwater and can hold their breath for up to 7 minutes, dolphins must come to the surface to breathe air. A muscular flap covers their blowhole while underwater and opens to exhale once they reach the surface. Dolphins aren’t involuntary breathers like humans. They must consciously swim to the surface to take a breath. This means they can never fully sleep.
Bottlenose dolphins communicate with each other using a collection of chirps, whistles, and clicks. Each dolphin has a signature whistle used to identify itself. When lost or isolated, a dolphin uses the signature whistle to call out to the group.
Within their groups, bottlenose dolphins like to play. They surf on waves near shore and ride waves caused by boats and big whales. They have also been documented creating bubble rings with their blowholes, spinning them with their beaks, and then breaking them apart by biting them. The technique of creating bubble rings is a learned behaviour; dolphins watch others create them and then try to mimic the behaviour.
Currently on loan to another location
This statue standing 182cm high in bronze, was commissioned for the marina with Sydney artist Louis Pratt in 2014 using 3D technology.