Cascade draws inspiration from the original purpose of Paddington Reservoir as a vital water‑storage system for a rapidly expanding Sydney. The installation evokes the sensation of water spilling over the surface of a bridge, forming a luminous, abstract waterfall.
At night, the work is illuminated by LEDs powered by a nearby solar panel, creating a soft, cascading glow that appears to flow downward through the structure. During the day, the afternoon sun filters through the Reservoir gardens and casts a vivid pool of blue light onto the lower surfaces. Viewers standing within this pool and looking upward experience a subtle illusion of being submerged, surrounded by shifting light that mimics the feeling of immersion in water.
Artist: Ruth McDermott and Ben Baxter
Medium: Acrylic, net and rigging poles and straps, solar power electrical source, Blue LED lightsource
Dimensions: 6m x 2m
Location: Paddington Reservoir, Sydney
Art Commission: City of Sydney Art Project
IMAGE: PADDINTON RESEVOIR
