Artist: Clary Akon
Title: Tidescape
Status: Completed September 2012

About the work

The design by local artist Clary Akon features an underwater themed frieze comprising of silhouettes of seaweed and darting schools of fish being chased by a cormorant. The silhouettes are laser cut from thick phosphor bronze sheeting and then welded together to form a single piece that is fixed to the eastern end of the northern arm of the baths. Clary Akon together with and Juan Pablo Pinto have recreated some of the underwater scenes that are synonymous with Watsons Bay, Australia’s oldest fishing village.

Mr Akon has been sculpting since the age of seven and has created a number of public and private sculptural commissions including a bronze sculpture for Bradfield Park at Milson’s Point to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Background

Artist Clary Akon was selected to create a public artwork that captures the unique character of the Watsons Bay Baths following a recent ‘expressions of interest’ process.

The artwork is a continuation of the $2million upgrade of the historic harbour pool which includes a new Olympic-style pool, boardwalk, better seating, improved all-ability access, increased views of the harbour and a larger swimming area.

"The Watsons Bay Baths Public Art Project is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to improve accessibility to the arts. The Council recognised there was a wonderful opportunity to incorporate public art into the historic and iconic aquatic environment of the Watsons Bay Baths. We wanted something that reflected Watsons Bay’s rich maritime and cultural history and would be a creative legacy for the community to enjoy and celebrate for many generations to come.”
Mayor of Woollahra, Councillor Isabelle Shapiro, 2011.

For further information please contact:

Cultural Development Team
Telephone: 9391 7135
Fax: 9391 7044
Email: culturald@woollahra.nsw.gov.au