Renewal of Ocean Siren Sculpture
PRESS RELEASE
After a significant fundraising program, the renewal of the Ocean Siren sculpture starts today. The sculpture will be absent from the Strand for a period of 12 weeks.
The Ocean Siren is a 4m high illuminated sculpture by artist Jason deCaires Taylor and inspired by Takoda Johnson, a young indigenous girl from the Wulgurukaba tribe. It serves as a warning signal about the warming seas' threat to the Great Barrier Reef.
The sculpture showcases Takoda holding a traditional indigenous communication device, a Bayliss shell, while looking out towards Magnetic Island and the Great Barrier Reef. At night, the sculpture's colour changes based on daily water temperature data from an AIMS weather station on Davies Reef.
This visual representation of current conditions helps raise awareness about the risks of warming seas to coral reefs. The structure of Ocean Siren, fabricated with stainless steel and translucent acrylic, features a matrix of LED lights that gradually change colour, resembling a heat sensing camera image.
The sculpture has been in place since 2019. Chair of the MOUA Ltd Board, Paul Victory, says,
“We are excited to be able to undertake this renewal project which will improve the ‘Ocean Siren’ outer acrylic skin and her internal lighting system. The sculpture has become a local landmark and we want to ensure all of Townsville appreciate her on the Strand. We are very thankful to the key contractors completing the work, the community members who made donations to the project and our principal grant from the Queensland Government Attorney General’s Department. Without the support of the community MOUA as a not-for-profit company could not have completed this project.”
The project is a forecast $100,000 investment and is being completed with the support of Townsville City Council. Pacific Marine Group in Townsville and Consolidated plastics and engineering solutions in Mackay are the principal contractors. Deputy Chair of MOUA and renown marine scientist, Dr Adam Smith said;
“The Ocean Siren on the Strand, is the principal sculpture that brings awareness of MOUA’s work. MOUA’s exhibitions have become globally significant and continue to attract global science interest. The partnership with AIMS linking the Ocean Siren colours with water temperature at the AIMS weather station is important. The ‘Ocean Siren’ brings awareness of traditional owners in our region and reminds us that ‘small changes’ in the way we live our lives can have impact in the race to restore our coral reefs.”
The sculpture has significant local appeal and is popular with visitors to Townsville who are often seen photographing her beautiful colours and contrasts.
MOUA Ltd, is a not-for-profit community company, it was created to inspire people throughout the world to visit the Townsville underwater sculpture site and to broaden the conversation about reef conservation. MOUA’s works bring into focus diverse fields of study including traditional owner practises in marine parks, marine science, coral gardening, underwater and environmental art, educational tourism and architecture. It provides a starting point and new perspective for an understanding of the Great Barrier Reef and its ecology. MOUA is the only underwater art museum in the Southern Hemisphere. A new exhibition is now in place at Townsville Airport.
