archive, fire, landscape, wind
1998
West Gate Bridge, Melbourne
As an opening ceremony for the Melbourne international art event ‘Construction in Process VI The Bridge’ (directed by Richard Thomas ), we planned a ceremonial bonfire.
This played music through steam organ pipes, cast a metal sculpture on site, and welcome the entire congregation of 120 artists and about 1500 viewers.
A large timber furnace/bonfire was made in the shape of two cones joined at the points. It measured about 6 metres in height and 3 metres in diameter.
Inside the fire sculpture was placed a 100 litre boiler, half full of water. a 30mm pipe-outlet for steam led to tuned steel organ pipes, which could play a 5 note diminished chord, and under the heat and pressure of the fire rise into uncharted harmonic territory.
Design by
