A politician has vowed that a giant will rise from the ashes after a community was left reeling following the torching of a popular tourist attraction.
On Saturday, shocked locals and visitors discovered that one of the Mandurah Giants, five sculptures created by world-renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo, had been destroyed by arsonists just a month after unveiling.
The giant mythical figures, located in the east Perth suburb of Mandurah, are made out of recycled materials and used to tell the local Indigenous Bindjareb people’s story of creation.
The charred remains of one of the Mandurah Giant artworks that are scatted around the region south of Perth
A visitor poses with the now-destroyed artwork Vivi Cirkelstone, which was part of a retelling of the Bindjareb people’s creation story
Four were scattered around a foreshore region of Mandura, which is about 70km south of Perth’s centre, and another was placed in the inner Perth suburb of Subiaco.
Mandura state MP David Templeman said the city’s council would approach Dambo about resurrecting the artwork, which was named Vivi Cirkelstone and depicted a giant figure on hands and knees examining rocks, was ‘heartbreaking.
‘I would love to see this giant resurrected and stick it up those who decide that they can ruin a really joyful experience for others,’ he told Perth Now.
‘Stick it up them and say “no, we’re not going to stand for it”. I’d love to see the sculpture rise again.
‘We’ll have will have some conversations and I reckon we can make great things out of what has been a pathetic action by one or two people who need to pull their heads in.’
The Mandurah community has reacted with shock and outrage over the destruction of the artwork
Vivi Cirkelstone was considered one of the more accessible giants for children and other visitiord
Mandurah Mayor Rhys Williams said the destruction of the artwork was a tragedy.
‘You just need to look at the emotion expressed across our community today at this news – the hurt, the sadness and the defiance to know how quickly these Giants have become a treasured part of Mandurah’s story, Cr Williams posted on Facebook.
‘She may have only been with us for a short time, but her presence was significant.’
The five wooden giants around Mandurah (two above) took ‘thousands of hours’ to make from recycled materials
Deputy Mayor Caroline Knight also voiced the community’s distress.
‘We are all devastated particularly the many children who have delighted in connecting with this whimsical sculpture.’ she posted on Facebook.
She also said the council was ‘actively considering’ how best to protect the other sculptures to prevent them suffering a similar fate.
Mandurah residents took to social media to express their sadness and disgust at vandals’ act of wanton destruction.
‘This is a terrible insult to the artists, the people, the area and the environment,’ one local wrote on Facebook.
Another of the Mandurah Giants, which visitors to the region were encouraged to find on a walking trail
‘Such a disgrace that ignorant people did this,’ another said.
‘A lack of respect for the artist who created these amazing sculptures and to our community who was privileged to experience an art installation that brought awe, happiness and amazement to young and old.’
‘What a wonderful privilege to have these amazing giants here and to admire the work of such a talented artist,’ another posted.
‘So sad that the idiots of society feel this is OK, just unbelievable and heartbreaking.’
Photos showing the charred remains of Vivi emerged online on Saturday morning.
Western Australia fire fighters confirmed they attended a fire in the area around 11.30pm on Friday night.
The Mandurah Giants were the work of renowned Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo and made entirely out of recycled materials
Visitors collect clues as they find the wooden giants until they’re eventually led to the secret ‘final giant’ further from the city.
Dambo and his team created each sculpture over ‘thousands of hours’ from recycled wood.
He’d hoped the project would help encourage people to connect with local nature and culture.
Vivi Cirkelstone was about two metres high and was five metres long and was considered the giant most accessible for people of all ages and mobility.
Photos show Vivi was reduced by the flames to a pile of blackened wood.
