By Ben Soltau
The Garden of Cloud and Stone stands proudly along Thomas St, Chinatown, as a monument to the rich culture of Chinese Australians, and the wealth of art and meaning they bring to the Australian cultural sphere.
Chinese-Australian artist Lindy Lee was commissioned by the City of Sydney in 2014 to design the piece in response to a 2010 public art initiative to vivify the public space of Chinatown led by curator Aaron Seeto.
Lee was born in Brisbane in 1954 and has lived through a storied and extensive career as an artist, drawing upon her cultural heritage of Taoism and Ch’an Buddhism to create a wide range of profound and enigmatic pieces over four decades, presenting in numerous exhibitions worldwide.
In 2016, Lee worked alongside Hill Thalis Architecture + Urban Projects and Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture to lead the implementation of the artwork.
The street was renovated with a variety of features drawing upon Taoist and Buddhist philosophy and the principles of feng shui to create an artistic space that encapsulates the cultural identity of Haymarket.
Three scholar’s rocks make up the base of the work, surrounded by a water feature, natural stone seating, a series of overhead circular sculptures resembling clouds named Cloud Gate, and bronze paving sections named Moon Gate.
Ten years later the piece stands in robust condition with people and seagulls alike enamoured in its beauty and uniqueness, a testament to the healthy and enduring heritage of Chinatown and all Chinese Australians that call Sydney their home.
Featured Image: One of the three scholar’s rocks of the Garden of Cloud and Stone. Photo: Ben Soltau
I’ve walked past this sculpture many times and did not realise till now that it’s one of Lindy Lee’s! Thank you for your informative article, Ben.