Elemental
A cutting edge, innovative sculpture has making a statement at the Ocean Street entrance of Victor Harbor’s Mainstreet Precinct`since 2019.
The City of Victor Harbor commissioned Fleurieu resident Karl Meyer, of Exhibition Studios, to create his piece ‘Elemental’ as a part of stage two of the Victor Harbor Mainstreet Precinct upgrade.
Artist Karl Meyer describes the work -
The igneous granite rock acts as a ground element from which ‘life force’ emanates from its centre. The elevated stainless steel forms flowing upwards; will celebrate life, movement and energy.
The incorporation of a locally sourced igneous rock from Inman valley forms the foundation of the sculpture. The form and material connects with The Bluff and Granite Island as well as providing a visual anchor for vertical aspects of the artwork.
The vertical element will appear to arise out of the boulder and lift into the sky, bringing life and energy into the broader world. The smaller forms will elude to bird life, fish, reflections of water and appear to flow together being uplifted as the visual progression moves through the form. A range of heat treating process onto stainless steel will be utilised, bringing colour changes within the material to create golden and blue tones.
Vision - written by Artist Karl Meyer
The vision for the artwork seeks to express the vitality and life energy of the natural landscape of Victor Harbor as well as celebrating the vibrancy of community and visitor engagement in the area.
The artwork brings focus to the energy in water, earth, air, plants and animals. It celebrates the natural beauty of the region, creating an iconic and symbolic presence of the area. The swirling forms provide a range of interpretations including water, birds, fish, wind; a dynamic flow that can be seen as both abstract and literal. Victor Harbor has a world class pristine coastline framed by striking rural vistas. The natural beauty of the region is anchored in a geological past that formed the striking Granite Island, the Bluff and spectacular Waitpinga cliffs.
The gateway public art statement will create a flowing form that provides a visual cue to Ocean Street and the retail precinct acting as a visual marker along Torrens Street. The work will provide wayfinding for vehicular traffic as the dynamic and uplifting form will indicate direction.
The visual refinement of the form, vivid colour and connection to the core of the Victor Harbor region, will create a lasting asset for the community.
The scale of the sculpture will serve as a wayfinding point for visitors, invoking a curiosity of what the main street has to offer and encouraging people to stop and explore. It assists in the principals in placemaking by facilitating a social and cultural identity for the region. The gateway statement will help to encapsulate community bringing a sense of aliveness to the precinct and engages with visitors, the local community and traders.
Artist Profile
Karl Meyer is an Adelaide based artist and designer who is recognised for creating original works that are whimsical, thought provoking and inviting of enquiry.
Karl’s enthusiasm for art and design arises from engaging in the development process from the initial concept to the final object. A fascination with the evolution of ideas and how they influence people and the physical environment led Karl to study Industrial Design in the early 1990’s. He has blended his art practice with his proficiency as an industrial designer since 1993 and has a reputation for bringing originality to his approaches, always encouraging engagement, interaction and a sense of curiosity to his work.
Karl uses the physical form of sculpture as a medium to engage people within the environment, stirring the imagination, and giving them pause to reflect on their surroundings.
