Tree of Life installation

Tree of Life documentary photography (December 10–11, 2012. Cranbourne Road exit, Peninsula Link, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

The large scale, wind-activated kinetic sculpture “Tree of Life” is a major, permanent Public Artwork designed and made by sculptor Phil Price of Christchurch, New Zealand. The work was commissioned by Peninsula Link* and installed in December 2012 at the Cranbourne Road exit site, on the Langwarrin exit ramp. This is one of the exit points for access to the McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park**.

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.

The work 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 ‘Art at Work’ project forms part of an 8 year ongoing collaboration between myself and Phil (Phil Price Sculpture and MagentaDot Brands)—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 aims to visually chronicle two days work in Karingal, Melbourne of Phil, his highly skilled employees and sub-contractors—art at work.

*Peninsula Link: A Public Private Partnership between; Linking Melbourne Authority (Victoria State Government) / Southern Way.www.peninsulalink.com.au

**McClelland Gallery + Sculpture Park: ww.mcclellandgallery.com

Nb. On the work safety side, it is important to point out that I comply with all Occupational Safety and Health guidelines on site and hold a current Trans-Tasman ‘Workplace Health and Safety’ card