Cloud of Bats draws inspiration from the daily dusk migration of Sydney’s fruit bats, one of the last remaining indigenous species living in the heart of the CBD. As evening falls, these black‑winged creatures sweep across the sky in a dramatic, cloud like swirling formation that has been part of the Australian landscape for thousands of years.
The installation evokes memories of this ancient movement through a suspended field of sculptural forms illuminated by colour‑changing LEDs. Positioned near the sandstone of Argyle Street, the work creates a dialogue between the natural history of the land and the colonial architecture that later reshaped it. The result is a contemplative light piece that connects viewers to both the enduring presence of the amazing native wildlife and the natural landscape, layered colonial history of the site.
Artists: Collaboration with Ruth McDermott, Ben Baxter & Trent Middleton.
Year: 2009.
Medium: Neoprene, net, rigging poles, LED colour‑changing lights.
Dimensions: 40m x 2m.
Location: Observatory Hill, Sydney.
