Ironically it is often only good or interesting art that can shock like a blow to the face, or raise in us revulsion or intense emotion. Bad art usually only produces laughter, mockery or indifference. However this piece next to Perth’s railway station manages to do it all. Its state of disrepair, ill conceived theme, and terrible execution combined to make me feel physically sick. The woman’s missing breast is horrifying. Perhaps it was “blown off” by the arse on the right? This monstrosity has been plopped next to Perth’s main railway station for 20 years now. What is wrong with Perth people? Have we become so used to this turd of a sculpture that we don’t even see it anymore? It was a bicentennial project apparently by “The Youth” of Perth in 1988. I hope these now ageing youths feel some spasm of shame for this as they pass through Perth’s station. The Director of the project Robert Fairclough has moved to Walpole to escape seeing this. Lucky devil.
Here’s a different angle showing a bloke rooting a giant hand. Thanks Youth. Can we at least be thankful he wasn’t scratching his arse? The plaque begins, “The Snow Goose need not bathe to make itself white, neither need you do anything but be yourself” Lao Zi. (老子) Die you bastards die!. That was me, not Lao Zi.
The plaque also has a list of the young criminals who did this to us. Hunt them down people of Perth. Hunt them down one by one and destroy them. Director Sculpture – Robert (asleep at the wheel) Fairclough, Design Concept-Robert Boyle, Trevor Walley & Dion, Team – Shane, Trevor, Rita, Charlie, Dion, Jason, Michael, plus all the other lucky bastards who didn’t rate a mention on the plaque.
By the way, one of the sponsors is Miniskip.
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The Worst of Perth 
I thought it was Bottom from Midsummer Night’s Dream.
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puck!
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truly, truly abominable
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It was interesting to discover from the link that Robert Fairclough was self taught from the age of seven. What does that mean? was he left to fend for himself in the wilderness? was he brought up by wolves? Did he flunk out of school at grade 2? Don’t the buddhists say something like give me a child until the age of seven and I will show you someone who can finger paint and cut with plastic scissors?
Maybe everything that a seven year old knows about art and the world can be seen in this sculpture – lets make bottom jokes and laugh at ladies boobies!
There are plenty of people hanging around the Perth railway station who have taken the not bathing bit to heart, as well as the “you need not do anything..” so he has a fair bit to answer for.
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I assume it is him, as there are a few breasted nymphs emerging from tree trunks sort of stuff on websites. However they are not all as terrible as this one. Some I quite like. If I was him I would campaign to get rid of the station one, or bring his trusty chainsaw when he next visits Perth. He might be able to catch the australind down, pop out at Perth, hack the sculpture up and be back in the bar car before it takes off down south again..
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I lived in Perth for 22 years and didn’t notice this statue once! How!
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one butt-ugly piece of work!
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Let’s go straight to the sixth and seventh levels of hell reserved for those who have committed the offences of violence and fraud (this includes tyrants, murderers, blasphemers and sodomites)
My eyes have been violated and whoever commissioned this were definitely screwed out of a few bucks!
Dex
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Gosh that is one ugly piece of sculpture – almost as bad as our new rusty sculpture at the Mandurah Train Station.
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Come on. The rusty is not as bad as this one is it?
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Are you all serious? This work was done in 1988! Have you seen some of the s**t that is classified as art at the moment? I would much prefer to look at this then some crap that the tax payers have paid a ridiculous price for AND is a complete eye sore!
Is anyone that is commenting anywhere near as good an artist as he is? I don’t even know this guy but since reading these comments, I want to know more about his work.
And for the stupid comment from Cimbali… The website you a referencing to is a third party organisation, so he didn’t even write any of that information. I have found out that he chooses not to conform and he has limited technology available to him, this including access to internet or a computer.Therefore confirming my previous comment. Plus anyone would have interpreted that self taught was in regards to his passion and talent of art from the age of 7 years old. I have also found out that his talent was acknowledged multiple times, he received an art scholarship and he’s done live carving performances for exclusive hotels. So maybe think twice about judging him the way you have. As for your other comment “There are plenty of people hanging around the Perth railway station who have taken the not bathing bit to heart, as well as the “you need not do anything..” Whether or not anyone took the quote to heart or not, he is definitely not to blame for the decisions of others. If you actually understood what the quote meant then you would not made yourself look like a fool, it is about self acceptance.
I think that this is a act of bullying and you all should know better. People have the right to express themselves. It is a shame that some guy who nobody even knows thinks that his opinion is worth our time and so clearly trying to get a reaction out of people with his idiotic opinions! Though I’ve reacted, someone needs to support the people who’s achievements your ridicule in order to gain your own false sense of worth.
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I can see why it took you nearly seven years to write that.
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The set of posts on this subject should have been tagged “arse and boozie”.
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Kalamunda resident?
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Has a similar inability to know how to respond without making a fool of themselves as many Kalamuntians. Trending towards tool commenting paradoxes, ie nobody cares what you say, that is why I am writing a long rant. And let me angrily comment on issues not covered in the post.
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“Have you seen some of the s**t that is classified as art at the moment? I would much prefer to look at this then some crap that the tax payers have paid a ridiculous price for AND is a complete eye sore! ” so which are the pieces that you think are crappy? Or are you bullying everything from the last 25 years?
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And you can still see it at the sculpture prison at Gomboc gallery.
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“Triumph of the Remove Will ” is tagged ” arse and boozie”.
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“I have found out that he chooses not to conform and he has limited technology available to him, this including access to internet or a computer…. I have also found out that his talent was acknowledged multiple times, he received an art scholarship and he’s done live carving performances for exclusive hotels. So maybe think twice about judging him the way you have. ”
Refusal to separate the artwork from the artist (as though artists never turn out individual works even they may regret): check.
Personal grievance: check.
Missing the point: check.
Impressed by live carving performance for exclusive hotels: check.
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Sounds like he conforms a lot. Kowtowing to his hotel carving masters. Does he have tattoos?
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Because chainsaw carving is definitely what the guests of exclusive hotels want to see.
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I’m thinking the medium was probably butter.
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PHWOARRR!!!
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I’m going ape.
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I once booked an ice-carver for a Media Ball. He was terrific (but it was hard to hear things above the chainsaw)!
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two-stroker?
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