Aside from its marvelous museums, my
favourite thing about our capital city is the easy, graceful manner in which it
cohabits with the natural world; perhaps more so than any major city I’ve ever
visited.
A favourite haunt was the NGA Sculpture
Garden, a haven of serenity:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGwDSSmBukDW5rzD-B-Nsx8qZ8v3r35FgyGUZbyNpqFr0j1cKAWAAxJCBAlKLJilbIUNO2-77UHO0qDxF-UqQtL2-TnvTkks4yWkfGefniLWsDmtbHKJwvvibhyn6ZE2TyUYWrxPCifs/s640/IMG_9234.jpg) |
Auguste Rodin, Pierre de Wiessant, Eustache de Saint Pierre, Jean d'Aire and Andrieu d'Andres from
The burghers of Calais, 1985-86, cast 1967-84 |
One afternoon Shane and I stopped to admire two of Auguste Rodin’s nude studies for the Burghers of Calais, (c 1885-86, bronze, cast by Georges Rudier Foundry Paris, 1974).
Climbing the back of the lefthand figure at a rate of knots was this exquisite caterpillar:
Eagled-eyed Shane was the first to spot an extraordinary sight: a second caterpillar, semi-cocooned inside the mouth of the same figure. It’s a shame we won’t be around for its transformation into a butterfly and its maiden flight - an enchanting sight I’ll only ever get to see in my mind’s eye.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTGLyXIgX_ta5BQmiRUVd1fvPcHa_MBYeP4T2cfQbK1Z0INvWSwtkz-yNNjN4mzdpQM91x0zZBOP2mBJNj5OtEcQ05jpMshwQ5yMP4ZrSSsFiLC03c5BRy_4vUp_4z7B6pBxw5AGNW4Y/s640/IMG_9140.jpg) |
Foreground, centre: Emile Bourdelle, Penelope, 1912 with feathered visitor;
Background: Mark de Suvero, ik ook ('me too') 1971-72 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWawEMvklMsZ_KBmYDxE02dQgI6L67jM8X2VpiUPG4Eb9ae7RlSxFcszlznmvRcf4hZBzpfmP0PWv8lIHScIi75UHwiWLwjUMP_v3CSPCRkmUZ-nSAYlqrKpvxldOTd9XPIbqRHetZPc/s640/IMG_8990.jpg) |
Dadang Christanto, Heads from the North, 2004 (detail) See also image below
Background, centre: Henry Moore, Hill arches, 1973 |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbGNoqLvl_DEpqpo5phzBTVQ5dmJMh_X90L8Hnt72TCaMCOoCaojI-JO69g86O-o7G9meGURMyBkSYUBvhgzdIy48X53sv8A9PdNBnJCfxR5rkJLZHoShcS81BwXUHcpQOeJT301l3AI/s640/IMG_8991.jpg) |
Only one waterlily was in bloom, but it was a beauty |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWS07FROAQ8yNXe-j4Gcr-FOgBAJqEMClO_qyvP1NLZveR6MLtqrgofNhbJk-VpA5vGou2sxsjZRpAx4MsrXfzSsLTwRseZVcQkYPBrDen6Ftc4xoKbgyms82o7x6Z4vwFxp9ToSF8FWA/s640/IMG_9257.jpg) |
Leaf litter |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMS8ZUQDf4OQ6OrPG533yt67NyzUmTu9xvNvrIn3dvLTDJLEqjMkSRwMR6RCAedgRpAAXC8wMyWbxhKdPQ1SIeaToAhRtTkuwCpPZSey4jcuyxFZAdoycE6C1ycv6-DmkjIMZx9y39Sw/s640/IMG_9012.jpg) |
Burt Flugelman, Cones, 1982, stainless steel (detail) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TZMIx-go4smSw4_aLxGx2gS2MLaJxChccF-nj-zL0GkmAnVKAmBAvf5XlnqzDYmSqHsmPEpNLRsEXwTJgx6UaWlLUdp3VSFYLIjkerPACm30uK_Uzv-qvm84IYbWiAXsoiCJxzmQAa4/s640/IMG_9141.jpg) |
Anthony Gormley, Angel of the North (life-size maquette), 1996, bronze
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOjsN0x9HMtjMmocr2MxjfNf_dkMwNSNllUErUx1ua0Nn5a1yy6OAvQyxuw-9bNwGfky0aPPrrb1VprB8Dh12jguZ5FwM_AzYF2M4NbfD7aSzbj88ox0-6VVpJgHSoGXDFs2LwqrGI6Q/s640/IMG_9161.jpg) |
On the steps of the National Library of Australia (the statue of the monkey to my
left commemorates the Chinese Year of the Monkey). Photo by Shane Jones |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oVmK6QHVEs1z6xPRsj70kLmDHRdjs8RRQKGOFjqFXntwGkqrR-e8vDi3JGeszzKrKozx6mCjaQckkKhclNlPny_A8ILmAFDfqO4pkmj7gdT8hv8USc7dmoRNMeRZqpdIpOFmOGAK1B8/s640/IMG_9167.jpg) |
Connection to the natural world is reinforced by the above sculpture (foreground): Fire and Water by Judy Watson;
Sound designer: Michael Hewes |