The 10 metre tall wind-activated kinetic sculpture “Tree of Life” is a major, permanent Public Artwork designed and made by Phil Price of Christchurch, New Zealand.
The work was commissioned by Peninsula Link[1] and installed over 10–12 December 2012 at the Cranbourne Road exit site, on the Langwarrin exit ramp from the new motorway. This is one of the exit points for access to the McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park[2].
Shaun Chamberlain steadies the second branch of pods as they are crane-lifted up to the crown of the work. Phil Price is waiting at the crown on the cherry picker platform to affix it there.
Tree of Life is one of Peninsula Link’s featured major permanent sculptures and is part of Southern Way’s unique partnership with the McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park in Langwarrin, which was established to manage the selection and installation of sculptures on Peninsula Link. Tree of Life is part of an ongoing project that will alternate sculptures on the Peninsula Link Freeway with the McClelland Gallery collection.
Tree of Life measures 10 meters high and is made of composite materials; carbon fibre, fibreglass, kevlar high temperature epoxy, along with custom, one-of-a-kind precision bearings and various kinds of steel.
The large tree like form is a wind-activated kinetic sculpture that makes an obvious reference to the eucalypt—an Australian icon. As such Tree of Life functions as a landmark for the natural beauty of the Mornington peninsula.
Tree of Life documentary photography
This project forms part of an ongoing collaboration between myself and Phil Price that got underway in 2006, it is a work in progress that aims to progressively document both Phil’s completed works and methodologies. Heroic photos of completed work have been shot and select, significant episodes of work process events such as this one have been journaled. This slideshow chronicles two days work in Karingal, Melbourne by Phil, his highly skilled employees and sub-contractors.
[1] Peninsula Link: A Public Private Partnership between; Linking Melbourne Authority (Victoria State Government) / Southern Way.
[2]McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park:
Description
Project name: Tree of Life installation documentary photography
Client (Industry): Phil Price Sculpture / PKP Kinetics (Fine arts)
Disciplines: Photography / Video
Format: Slideshow / short film
Date: 2012
Nb. On the work safety side, I comply with all Occupational Safety and Health guidelines on the construction site and hold a current Trans-Tasman ‘Workplace Health and Safety’
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