Compass 2023 Sculpture

Can a sculpture make you question your own perception? Here at the Compass 2023 sculpture, that’s exactly what artist Natasha Johns-Messenger intends. Compass 2023 isn’t just a static piece of art. It’s a dynamic experience designed to challenge how we see the world around us. The sculpture was commissioned for a hefty $300,000 as part of the Southern Way McClelland Commission. It replaced another sculpture, Lover Flower, which now resides at the McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery. Compass 2023 is a series of 12-meter-high steel structures. These structures are a minimalist “line-drawing” in three dimensions, powder-coated in simple colors. The design is based on the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. The smallest semi-circle points directly north. The semi-circular forms also echo the curves of freeway off-ramps, a nod to the sculpture’s location along Peninsula Link. What’s particularly fascinating about Compass 2023 is its use of what the artist calls “spatial and material conundrums”. From certain angles, the arcs create a visual illusion. It becomes difficult to tell which way they are facing, creating a disorienting effect. This deliberate disorientation plays with our perception. It makes us question what we think we know about the space around us. Natasha Johns-Messenger’s intention with Compass 2023 is to make us more aware of the way we interpret our surroundings. The artist suggests that we all play a role in shaping our perception of the world. As you stand here, take a moment to let your eyes wander over the steel lines of Compass 2023. Consider how your perspective shifts as you move around the sculpture. Notice how your understanding of its form changes depending on your vantage point. This experience, this questioning of our perception, is at the heart of what makes Compass 2023 such a compelling artwork.