Map Ref.2. Above Parkes Place, suspended approximately 14 m above ground by a web of steel cables, between the National Gallery of Australia and the High Court of Australia.
In 1989, the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris held an exhibition of works of illusion called "Magiciens de la Terre". "Globe" was suspended over the heads of patrons waiting in the courtyard outside the exhibition galleries.
The globe was modelled from photographs of the planet Earth, taken as part of the
The sculptor came to Canberra to supervise the installation. In accordance with his wishes, "Globe" was installed outside the Gallery building. Dawson believes that his works belong to all people. For this reason he likes to break down traditional concepts of ownership, usually imposed on works by art galleries and their policies. In this way he releases his sculpture into what he terms "the art of the possible" . In this case, Dawson was particularly delighted to see his work installed, between the High Court of Australia and the National Gallery of Australia, thereby providing a tangible, physical link between this land's law and art. However, whilst "Globe" is visually available to all, its existence, as a work of art, is not tangible because it is suspended well out of reach. "Globe" is suspended in the air by a web of fine steel cables in such a way as to create the illusion that it is hovering in space and defying gravity. The airborn illusion is further enhanced by the inner glow of blue paint which suggests a sacred place, such as the interior dome of a Byzantine cathedral. However, the 70 kg weight of the structure is actually carried by a cube of steel cables within the work. This cube is connected to the external cables which link the work to the buildings.
© 1995 Jane M Hyden
