Here at Bicentennial Park, you can find art that grows. The Time Rings Installation is a unique piece. It combines nature, time and community.
Time Rings is an environmentally interactive sculpture. It sits at the western end of Bicentennial Park in Rozelle Bay. Jennifer Turpin and Michaelie Crawford created this special artwork. They are award-winning artists known for site-specific kinetic artworks.
The Time Rings Installation features a series of rings. These rings are made from precast concrete with lettering. They encircle the bases of eight fig trees. These trees line the path to the park’s center. The rings are set into the ground. As the fig trees grow, their roots will shift and dislodge the rings.
Each ring represents a decade. The installation starts with the 1990s. This is when the trees were planted. It ends with the 2060s when the trees will be fully mature. The ring for the 1990s is the smallest. It marks the beginning. Each ring has stones. Each stone increases in diameter. This symbolizes the passing of time. It also shows the growth of the trees.
The stones in each ring have dates. These dates are birthdays of children from nearby Annandale Public School. This connects the artwork to the local community. The artists used a random selection of birthdays.
Time Rings is at ground level. This makes it accessible to everyone. Visitors can sit on the stones. They can read the dates. Maybe they will even find their own birthdays. The artwork encourages reflection on the past. It inspires wonder about the future. It creates a connection between the trees and park visitors’ lives.
Leichhardt Council commissioned the Time Rings Installation. It was part of the creation of Bicentennial Park. Turpin and Crawford have over 30 years of experience. They work with art, science, nature and the built environment.
Their works explore environmental rhythms. They aim to make audiences more aware of time and space. The Time Rings Installation shows this perfectly. It is more than just art. It is a living timeline. It marks the growth of trees and the passage of time. It connects to the community.
So, take a moment here at the Time Rings Installation. Sit on the stones. Find a familiar date. Think about the past and the future. Consider how we are all connected to nature and time. This artwork is a reminder of our shared journey.