The opening of the 22nd Biennale of Sydney this week on Cockatoo Island was a powerful reminder of how much history we walk over when we enter these precious lands. The Island is a special place that must be protected from commercial development.
“It is a hushed place, a rare retreat from the shrieking mad city.” – Kent Mayo
Jenna Smith’s Opinion piece (Sydney Morning Herald 10 March 2020) received strong responses in Letters to the Editor (read them here). She completely disregards the fact that Cockatoo Island is not an undeveloped island as was the case with Naoshima Island. Cockatoo Island has significant cultural and historical heritage, parts of Cockatoo Island are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, the National Heritage List and the Commonwealth Heritage List.
Turning Cockatoo Island into a permanent art park will detract from the overall fabric and history of that location. Cockatoo Island and its structures as already very satisfying visually. The buildings themselves and cranes and other remnant reminders of the island’s past are very evocative. If any art is imposed permanently it is highly likely that this may be a random collection of works unlikely to have any cultural or heritage links with Cockatoo Island.
The Sydney Biennale has established a strong presence on Cockatoo Island. It has been consistently held up by the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust as a major success on Cockatoo Island. For about 3 months duration, every two years, the art is not intrusive or permanent and features artists who are directly responding to the island, often creating site specific works directly inspired by the Island.
The Cockatoo Island Foundation’s proposal seeks a very long lease on the whole of the Cockatoo Island site. This is a precinct the size of The Rocks; for a return of approximately $1.6 million a year. The proponents also seek $200 million funding from the Commonwealth to complete the remediation required. This hardly sounds like a good deal and certainly doesn't feel like a generous act of philanthropy.