Cristina Garduño Freeman: PHD Research

Flickr Group: Sydney Opera House

2011-08-25T14:39:00.004+10:00

Here is a sample of photographs from a Flickr Group

Sydney Opera House, a group on Flickr who post and share photos of this landmark. I think it is interesting that groups like this debate the way the Sydney Opera House should be represented. They post issues in the discussion section of the group, but they also, I would argue, have 'visual conversations' by looking at each others photographs and responding to these through their own visual means. The group has over 1200 members now, and over 4000 photos in their 'pool'. Take a look - I think you'll be amazed by some of the very slick photography as well as the contributions which show new and interesting vistas of this place.

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Sydney Opera House @ $200 per Kilo

2011-04-04T11:32:00.000+10:00

ROOF TILE - Listed by ''antiquesinsydney'' on Ebay, February 2008.
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman
Some time ago, in my automated Ebay search, I came across this listing, for a real Sydney Opera House Roof Tile. It was listed at $200 - starting bid that is, and I was interested, but my budget wouldn't really stretch to that..... It did make me think though how this particular object was actually a 'bit of Opera House' a chunk of the roof. And it raised question in my mind about ideas of authenticity. You one of the souvenirs you can buy at the Sydney Opera House souvenir shop (on the lower concourse) is a small piece of tile some 15mm across beautifully encased and endorsed as authentic in a slab of glass. That little treasure will set you back $125. Thats probably a per kilo prices of about $16000 dollars (according to my rough calculations that one tile would yield about $128 pieces). Does the price and the Sydney Opera house's endorsement make it more authentic? Or does the Ebay tile, with its rough worn edges and black text make is more valuable. further, this tile is no longer part of the Sydney Opera House - if it ever was! Perhaps this is a sample used in the process, or a spare tile found in a garage from someone who worked on the building's construction? Perhaps the tiles on the Sydney Opera House's sails are regularly replaced, yielding an annual vintage for souvenir consumption. And yet it has economic value as being intimately tied to the building. It doesn't even look like the building, its a ceramic tile after all, not the wonderful curving sculpture associated with the Opera House. It does make me wonder how this 'authentic' tile is more authentic that the little snow dome my daughter loves to play with.....

Sydney Opera House Limited Edition 1989 Holden Commodore

2009-04-07T10:59:00.005+10:00

EBAY - No1 of Limited Edition "Sydney Opera House" Holden Commodore 1989, photographs by Ebayer -Roses 653
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman

This Ebay lists a 1989 Holden Commodore for sale. It is a "Sydney Opera House" limited edition model, No:1 of only 100 produced. The Sydney Opera House has always had commercial affiliations, from the time it was still under construction; there are some great Qantas ads, (both old and recent) which use the Sydney Opera House to endorse our national carrier. but the car....I had never imagined...its amazing what Ebay brings to light!

LOGO

2009-04-02T14:07:00.012+11:00

Logo - Australiasian College of Nails Beauty Make-up and Hair
For more information on their Website click here

There are many logos which feature a gesture or form reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House. I have been asking myself what this means. It is a cultural practice, a way of locating a business, or organisation or even an event (think of the Olympics in 2000) in Sydney. It is also a way of adding status or endorsing the organisation in question with some uniqueness normally attributed to this particular work of Architecture. This example is particularly fascinating - the sails re-pictured as fingers with long feminine nails awkwardly perched at their tips. The hand is also in a strange position - lacks an opposable thumb - and is strangely claw like. The sydney Opera House is made analogous with a taloned wily woman's hand, coyly beckoning you towards her......Stay tuned for more logos in the coming days....

Memory

2009-03-29T15:11:00.003+11:00

Utzon State Memorial 25th March 2009
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman

On Wednesday, I attended the Utzon State Memorial, held in the Concert hall at the Sydney Opera House. The program was put together (as I understand) by Dennis Watkins, the composer of the Opera based on the story of the building's tumultuous construction. The program was a mix of music, popular song, dance and recitation - accompanied by visuals projected above the performance space. It was a momentous event to see the public capitulation of an architects life. The event was advertised and tickets drawn by ballot, and although there was clearly an overwhelming response, there were still many empty seats. But a public concert to celebrate a public building's architecture seems fitting, and it was clear from the response in the media, on talk back shows and in the papers, that this day offered an opportunity for an outpouring of public affection.

Dame Edna's day at Ascot

2009-03-16T13:25:00.008+11:00

PHOTOGRAPH "Edna's Opera Hat" - Copyright Wesley/Getty Images

Barry Humphries most famous persona is Dame Edna Everage, who in 1976 attended Royal Ascot Races wearing this (in Dame Edna's voice) 'goooorgeeeeoooouuusss' hat. Isn't it lovely? I have heard she has been known to sport a pair of sunglasses which features Jørn's lovely masterpiece, but am yet to find an example of these. The hat is now part of the Performance Exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Collection, (London UK), opening March 18th, 2009. Below is a photograph of this piece from the exhibition.

Architectural Currency

2009-03-13T12:25:00.004+11:00

STAMPS "Landmarks: Australian Modernist Architecture" - Designed by Gary Domoney. Issued 10th July 2007 by Australia Post
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman

I purchased these stamps whilst at the SAHANZ Conference in Adelaide in 2007. For 50c you can buy the Former ICI House in Melbourne by Bates Smart & McCutcheon (lower right) or Australian Academy of Science located in Canberra by Roy Grounds (Grounds, Romberg & Boyd)(top right). If your budget is a little more ample for $1.00 you could purchase Council House which is in Perth, by architects Jeffrey Howlett and Donald Bailey. However for those few in the upper echelons of society with plenty of money to spare, a mere $2.45 will get you your very own Sydney Opera House by Jørn Utzon. The you can lick the back and post it away.

Eat Me......Drink Me.....

2009-03-12T13:28:00.003+11:00

COOKIE CUTTERS - purchased from
Kool Cookie Cutters

I recently went crazy baking bug, beetle and butterfly biscuits for my daughters 4th birthday party. In the process I came upon these gems...landmark cookie cutters. I can't wait to to make a batch, ice them and eat 'em. The idea of munching on the Statue of Liberty or of dunking the Sydney Opera House into a cup steaming chocolate warms the cockles of my heart. Further the idea of having lots and lots of little flat Opera houses lying on a baking sheet make this unique and sculptural building ubiquitous, ordinary and plain as an Arnotts Arrowroot. That's it. I'm off, I promise to take photos of the process. This is what I call research!

Bring Utzon Back

2009-03-12T13:03:00.007+11:00

1967 POSTER "BRING UTZON BACK" - by John Kinstler, part of the Powerhouse Museum collection
More information here

The Powerhouse Museum holds in its collection many representations of the Sydney Opera House, including textiles by Jenny Kee, paintings by Ken Done and Olympic memorabilia. From the Powerhouse website: "these 'Bring Utzon Back' posters were designed and printed by a group of young architects then employed by the Public Works Department in the Government Architect's Office. The collection, kept by the donors since the late 1960s, includes the printing blocks and silk screens used to print the posters." The emotion stirred by the unfair treatment of Utzon is a subject of much debate in the literature on the Sydney Opera House. many different accounts have been written which try to put together the events which took place between the government and consultants and understand where things went wrong. These posters are, in my opinion, beautiful pieces of graphic design. The typography seems to try an capture some of the highly charged alliances created between members of the architectural community and in the public at large. Search the collection at the Powerhouse Museum to see the other posters in this series.

Kathleen's Tribute

2009-03-12T11:27:00.006+11:00

TRIBUTE TO JØRN UTZON - posted on the Jørn Utzon Sydney Opera House website
More Tributes

On 29th of November 2008, Jørn Utzon died at the age of ninety. His passing has been a trigger for a national outpouring of gratitude for his acclaimed design of the Sydney Opera House. This emotion, as this on of many tributes expresses is like a climax to the tragic story surrounding the conception, construction and recognition of this building. The hero, Utzon, never returned to Australia after being forced to resign due to lack of payment. This rift, between the building he is most well known for and its architect arguably heightens the dramatic narrative which accompanies this place. The personal identification people have with the Sydney Opera House is personal, internal; as Kathleen describes, "now when I see it, it feels like home, like a part of me."

Bowl, Whisk and Toast Rack.

2009-03-11T13:46:00.015+11:00

FOOD FESTIVAL ADVERT (DETAIL) - Displayed on parking meter on Mary Ann St almost corner with Jones St in Ultimo, Sydney.
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman

A few years ago in Sydney (which goes to show how often they change the ads on the parking meters) there was a night time food festival in Sydney - which used the Sydney Opera House in this great still life. We seem to take great delight in re-creating this building out of almost anything - rice bowls in this instance! The Sydney Opera House has been referred to be 'like' many different things - some romantic like shells, sails, petals unfolding and some less flattering like 'a scrum of nuns' or 'turtles making love'. What interests me is the buildings delicious ambiguity - that it allows for multiple metaphors. Its so un-building-like that it must be something.....its very ambiguity spurs the creation of endless re-representations.

Chocolate Cake

2009-03-11T12:18:00.008+11:00

THE SYDNEY OPERA DOUBLE LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE - Posted by 'wizzical' on entertainment.webshots.com, May 2006.

"Let them eat cake!"

Although there is a lack of consensus on whether Marie Antoinette actually uttered this phrase, she is generally the person associated with this phrase. This digitally altered photograph of the Sydney Opera House reminds me of the debate surrounding Sydneysider's 'need' for an 'opera house'. I really can't imagine a less structurally sound material than 'cake' to make this building - particularly with the creamy centre.

Pop-Up Opera

2009-03-11T10:57:00.009+11:00

ORIGAMIC ARCHITECTURE "SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE" - posted on YouTube by kamiwazakihara

The ubiquitous pop-up, always a favourite with children's books is also an art form. How exactly one sheet of size A4 reflex paper can be turned into one of the most geometrically challenging buildings defies belief. But this neat little video, with its automated 'pop' mechanism is evidence it can be done. Note the lack of the podium in this model, like many representations of this building, the 'sails' outrank the podium - which is forgotten, omitted or obliterated from view. Which is funny really because it the podium that is the public space of the building; the stairs which act as a resting spot or raked seating for outdoor events and the promenade surrounding the building from which we are offered spectacular harbour views. I guess it could be seen as a reflection of the way we look at the building - up that is - always looking at the sky with the 'sails' floating in front.

Authentic Junk for $9.50 - Bargain!

2009-03-10T14:54:00.004+11:00

FIRE SPRINKLER - Listed by 'Libertystats' on Ebay, November 2007.
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman

This firesprinkler was listed for sale in late 2007. The seller claims it is a genuine example of the original 1972 installation, which was being upgraded. He or She amusingly suggests that by buying this obsolete object "you too can be a part of history", and that it "would look great on a mantle piece or anywhere you prefer." I'm nor sure that this object - out of context (that is not in the Sydney Opera House) and on your mantelpiece would ever really be recognised as more than a piece of junk. but as Beverly Gordon suggests, this souvenir is a 'piece of rock' that is a fragment of the larger site or destination. The object itself has no longer has any real use; its value lies in its origin and authenticity as part of the Sydney Opera House. I am not sure how much the final item sold for, or what the purchaser is actually doing with it, but I find the idea that there is an exchange value to this firesprinkler very interesting indeed.

Souvenir....

2009-03-10T13:11:00.005+11:00

PHOTOGRAPH titled "Not so big hu ?"
Originally uploaded by Fabien H

This photograph is a great example of the playful ways people interact with the Sydney Opera House. Souvenirs are often small awkward replicas of places, meant to help us remember the experience we had there. In this image their is a wonderful play on scale: has the opera house shrunk or has the viewer grown to giant proportions.

This image prompts me to think of Susan Stewart's work in On Longing, where she discusses the issue of scale and how it changes our perception and relationship to places and things. Its seems as though the souvenir in this case is a way of incorporating, that is making this extraordinary building, small and comprehensible and able to be brought into our ordinary worlds.

Textile or Tea-towel?

2009-03-10T13:00:00.003+11:00

SOFA - Designed by Suzie Stanford, on display at Format Furniture, Surry Hills, Sydney.
Originally uploaded by cgardunofreeman

I love this sofa. I am not sure if its the idea of using touristy tea-towels to cover furniture or if its the idea of sitting on our favorite icons. You know getting really comfy and cosy with them. I love the way the Sydney Opera House features as the centre panel on the back of the sofa, gloriously enshrined in a floral corona and flanked by our national crest - the kangaroo and the emu.