Sydney Festival is set to return from January 5-28 with a stacked program of art, music, theatre and much more. Its 150-plus events include 26 world premieres, 29 Australian exclusives and 43 free events, one of which is a life-size octopus sculpture set to take residence in the heart of Barangaroo. Te Wheke-a-Muturangi is the name of the fascinating sculpture and it’s created by Māori artist Lisa Reihana.
Te Wheke-a-Muturangi, Sydney Festival
Based on Māori mythology, the artwork tells the story of Te Wheke, a giant octopus who was destroyed by Kupe, a Polynesian fisherman and navigator, who is believed to be the first person to have discovered New Zealand according to Māori oral history.
The floating, tentacled creature has been created from 1000 pieces and can be viewed up close on Watermans Cove throughout the festival. If you want to read more about the sculpture, scan the QR code on-site for more information. Sydney Festival also recommends kayaking tours for a closer view of the cephalopod. Get more information here.
There’s a lot more on the cards at Sydney Festival including Puccini’s Il Tabarro performed aboard the historic lightship, The Carpentaria, a full-blown swing festival at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Dinosaur World Live at Riverside Theatres and a lot more. Festival favourite Symphony Under the Stars is also returning. Get all the highlights here.