December 2024. Final touches are underway for unveiling a new sculpture commission, a land art work referencing the stars. Part of a major transport infrastructure project developed by NSW Government and Westconnex, Asterisk is a placeholder at an entrance to new parklands on traditional Gadigal and Kameygal lands. Named after the Ancient Greek word asteriskos, meaning little star), Asterisk refers to ancient celestial knowledge systems and ancestral journeys led by the stars across the land and sea. Its circular stone formations relate to diverse cultural traditions and the spiritual ties between Earth and Sky. Each stone holds the stories of the oldest continent on Earth. Rock from the far West and East corners of Australia are intersected by a composite stone the artist has made from rock recovered from tunnelling deep below the sculpture site for new super-highways. On this resculpted earth, the artwork marks a new direction in the decolonisation of space. Asterisk is orientated towards Ginan, the brightest small star in the Southern Cross which was recently officially given its ancient Aboriginal astronomy star-name on international star maps. A geometry of shadows, like star-maps, track the passage of time inside an open circle of setttler heritage stone. Dating to the Triassic period and hand-hewn from local quarries, these blocks once lined nineteenth century Sydney roads.

Asterisk 2020-2024
Pilbara Marble, Chillagoe Marble, Sydney Tunnel-Stone, Heritage Sandstone
11m Dia.
Public Art Project Sydney NSW