Mardi Gras unveils 40th anniversary art installation at Taylor Square

Mardi Gras unveils 40th anniversary art installation at Taylor Square
Image: Image: supplied.

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras today unveiled the Taylor Square art installation commissioned to commemorate the annual celebration and protest’s 40th anniversary.

Designed by Maurice Goldberg and Matthew Aberline, ’40 Years of Love’ is a celebration of 40 years of Mardi Gras and uses symbols to represent the five themes of repression, adversity, freedom, diversity and love.

The project represents historic Mardi Gras concepts such as public protest, joyous celebration, community activation and engagement

Its use of wild, varying colours and shapes express that Mardi Gras is not a singular concept, but a mixture of diverse ideas, people, histories, politics and expressions.

“We were struggling to describe a singular image to describe the history of Mardi Gras,” Aberline said.

“It’s so varied, political, sexual, and the history of it is so complicated, so rather than trying to find a singular item, we decided to make a microcosm of what Mardi Gras is about – the good stuff, the bad stuff, and the celebration.”

“It’ll be nine metres high at its highest point above the ground,” Goldberg added. “That’s higher than a three-storey building.

“We want people to notice this – it’s a big, sassy, loud, undeniably in-your-face installation.”

The installation integrates with the existing Taylor Square architecture, rising above the iconic grass island and water fountain.

The 360-degree work transforms the space into a light-filled outdoor pavilion so visitors are invited to walk through and explore its’ various images and symbols from different perspectives.

“Forty years ago, on June 24, 1978, the first Mardi Gras celebration turned protest took place,” Mardi Gras CEO Terese Casu said.

“Today, we not only pay respect to those that risked their lives for equality on that night and on nights since, but we also celebrate how the LBGTQI community has prevailed over the past 40 years.

“Maurice and Matthew’s artwork is a magnificent representation of 40 years of evolution and love.”

The installation will remain on Taylor Square until 1 September, 2018.

Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore said “Local artists Maurice Goldberg and Matthew Aberline have created an amazing inflatable artwork to celebrate that first bloody Mardi Gras which took place on our streets exactly 40 years ago.

“It has been an honour to have so many opportunities this year to come together with our 78ers and LGBTQI community and to commemorate 40 years of love and protest.

“I would also like to acknowledge those LGBTQI heroes who are no longer with us today.”

“At Mardi Gras in March, they were talking about the 40th anniversary of the festival, but the 24th of June is the actual date,” Goldberg said.

“It’s our day – it’s our Stonewall. This is the anniversary of a 40 year revolution that began in blood, in tears, and behind bars. It destroyed lives.

“Here we are 40 years on, with incredible liberty. We can’t understate it – this is so much more than a party.

“This is us putting our stake in the ground. Over 40 years the diverse LGBTQI community has come so far.

“The 24th of June 1978 was the beginning of in-your-face revolution. This is a time to think about the people who actually risked their lives in 1978, and the evolutionaries and revolutionaries over the last 40 years.

“The artists, the politicians, the social workers, the professionals, the drag queens, the trans people…I think it’s really important that we hold this day and remember it into the future.”

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One response to “Mardi Gras unveils 40th anniversary art installation at Taylor Square”

  1. That’s a great idea having a MG celebration of our culture being up front at Taylor Sq to publicise ourdivercity, also good news about the externded rainbow crossing being restored – seams like a non-slip paint has now been found! It could help restore our LGBTI iconic place in Oxford St that’s been declining over the last 20 odd yrs as more people find other locations & business opportunities decline in & around Oxford St.