“I hope the final result will spark discovery and interaction, probing memories of place and connection to nature.”
Sound Shell, Christabel Wigley, 2022
“Australian artist and Mornington Peninsula resident, Christabel Wigley, was awarded the public artwork commission after impressing McClelland, Karingal Hub and ISPT representatives with her Sound Shell concept.
Sound Shell takes the form of a Turbo shell, which is commonly found on the Mornington Peninsula and culturally significant to the Bunurong people of the Karingal area.
Fabricated in aluminium on a magnified scale, the sculpture stands 2.5m tall and incorporates a unique soundscape emanating from within the shell with audio of local Bunurong language spoken by Uncle Mik Edwards and N’arweet Dr Carolyn Briggs AM and sounds of a wedge-tailed eagle recorded by Vicki Powys, representing the origins of the land.
“Sound Shell has been inspired by the beauty and evocative nature of a seashell. The pattern has been hand-crafted and carved from a giant block of polystyrene, with plaster sculpting ridges and nodes applied to produce the Turbo shell.”
“I hope the final result will spark discovery and interaction, probing memories of place and connection to nature.”
—Australian Arts Review
