biennale of sydney 2008 cockatoo island, site of ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis image © designboom

designboom is just back from the biennale of sydney 2008, australia’s festival of contemporary art. numerous international artists have gathered at various locations around sydney harbour to exhibit their works. one of the venues was cockatoo island, an old industrial site which used to be a former prison and shipyard which has now been transformed into an urban park. one of the pieces on view was a site-specific installation, ‘project for sydney’ by artist jannis kounellis.

kounellis developed his ‘project for sydney’ using poor materials which make reference to the weight and practice of labour and its poetic universe of revolutionary associations. for the site-specific work, he envisioned the great turbine hall on cockatoo island as a space filled with air. large sails are hung across the hall creating a canopy-like feel where the great ships of the past were built.

jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008 installation view of ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis, 2008 image © designboom

jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008 ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis, 2008image © designboom

jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008 ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis, 2008 image © designboom

jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008 ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis, 2008 image © designboom

jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008 ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis, 2008 image © designboom

jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008 ‘project for sydney’ by jannis kounellis, 2008 image © designboom

more: http://www.bos2008.com http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au

designboom snapshot report: jannis kounellis at the biennale of sydney 2008