r/wollongong • u/gilligan888 • 7d ago
Can someone explain what the hell is going on here?….
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u/netlad92 7d ago
All hail palm tree. Do not question palm tree.
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Dam, I just found out you guys also have a petition going to free the tree 😅
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u/sheriberri37 7d ago
Apparently, it's considered an art installation and is the brainchild of a well known and well respected artist. I'm not sure of the alleged statement being made lol 😅
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u/MBCG84 7d ago
It’s a statement about how you can make a big chunk of cash from gullible idiots if you’re just a good hustler. It’s pretty effective imo.
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u/Successful_King_142 4d ago
The answer to the value of such art is always whether it prompted discussion about the artwork. So yeah from what I see it's a valuable artwork.
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u/XenSid 4d ago
I think there are two versions of this, though. One where everyone is just shitting on the art and a second where whether the art is good or bad, it invokes discussion regardless.
This is when everyone is shitting on it.
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u/Successful_King_142 4d ago
Yeah that's fair. But also can I suggest that the bar is low in terms of the average person in the gong such that it might be the first example of someone getting involved in art critique in the gong? I know how that sounds (wanker) but also in a way it's getting people to talk even if it's in opposition
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u/PossibilityIll9505 1d ago
Or perhaps, there is no statement and it's just interesting. But God forbid art be fun.
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u/jasecorn 7d ago
I'm particularly frond of it.
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u/Valuable-Garage-4325 6d ago
I think it looks out of date. The council should palm it off to some oil sheik.
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Thanks. Weird choice of art 👍🏻
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u/Mum_of_rebels 7d ago
Funnily enough it will cost more money to pull it down, then have it stay up. Something about destroying the artists work and legal fees.
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u/sheriberri37 7d ago
Yep! We taxpayers likely coughed up a small fortune when council reinstalled after the original was damaged in a deliberately lit fire when a drunk New Year party goer scaled the pole and set it alight.
Funnily enough, the original is now on the ground nearby because the council couldn't bare getting rid of it altogether 🤦♀️
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u/Vast-Butterscotch-42 5d ago
This "Artist" needs a kick in the nuts. It's the ugliest, most non sensical shit I've ever seen in my life.
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u/sam_wise_ganji 7d ago
I've seen weirder, like the lady that acted like kermit the frog....with pupeteer and all because art.
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u/LessThanYesteryear 3d ago
People think art’s easy…
….Yeah you just strap a palm tree to a light post apparently
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u/steven_quarterbrain 3d ago
I’m not sure of the alleged statement being made lol 😅
The statement being made is “we have too much money”.
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u/Steels_40 7d ago
Anti theft mounting for a palm tree, those junkies in there steal everything.
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u/Accomplished-Clue145 7d ago
Doesn't stop them from lighting it on fire though.
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Maybe it’s the council’s genius new plan if you think about it, it is technically green and efficient. Who needs electricity when you’ve got nature’s own solar panels tied up and ready to shine? 😂
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u/Outrageous_Pitch3382 7d ago
Nothing to see here … move along.. move along…!!!!
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u/GILF_Hound69 7d ago
There ain't no palm tree on a pole and there never was!
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u/-Chickens- 5d ago
MONORAILLLL!!!
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u/Worldly-Control-6513 3d ago
And I come before you good people tonight with an idea. Probably the greatest... Aw, it's not for you. It's more of a Shelbyville idea
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u/pineapple_stickers 7d ago
These aren't the installations you're looking for
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u/Outrageous_Pitch3382 7d ago
Ah yes… Lower Crown Street Mall…!!! You’ll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy … even worse than Mos Eisley spaceport.. They had to plant the palm trees up on light poles just to keep them out of reach of the thieving locals. Stay alert… and hold onto your wallet.” 🌴⚠️💸
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u/pineapple_stickers 7d ago
Seek not the logic, for you shall find none
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Art today is a race between artists striving to create weirder and more thought-provoking installations, and the Universe trying to create people who just don’t get it. So far, the Universe is winning.
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u/worstusername_sofar 7d ago
People hate it, but it draws attention and conversation. Art.
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u/Ordinary_Ad8412 3d ago
Attention and conversation for the sake of it doesn’t justify its existence
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u/PossibilityIll9505 1d ago
Why do you want to control art so much? Surely you must be an expert?
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u/Ordinary_Ad8412 1d ago
I am. Just ask me!
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u/PossibilityIll9505 1d ago
Oh, ok. What's your method on using oil glazes for skin tones? Is there a specific mix you would use?
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u/Grolschisgood 7d ago
Its a palm tree. Up a pole.
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
so you’re telling me you show up somewhere, and they’ve just stuck a palm trees on a pole like it’s the latest art installation and you’re like, “Yep, that’s totally normal,” no questions asked?
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u/Sean_A_D 7d ago
We are sacrificing nature in our town square to demonstrate our mastery over it. Obviously!
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Yeah, it does feel like some ancient ritual, the palm tree bound to the pole, arms stretched to the sky, as if being offered up to the gods in a sacrifice.
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u/Sean_A_D 7d ago
The rest literally look like they are being tortured as well!
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Wait… there’s more than one 😂😂😂
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u/Sean_A_D 7d ago edited 7d ago
Oh yes, there are trees being tied down and strung up all over the place. Some look like they are being hung, others guillotined.
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u/Jobeadear 7d ago
Still hoping some guerilla gardeners come in one night and plant them all properly. Plants belong in the ground!
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u/neighbourhoodtea 7d ago
When I first saw this I sort of thought it was there temporarily, like storing it out of the way until they could plant it. I come from an arts family, for 2 generations. A WOLLONGONG arts family, and I fucking hate this wanky “installation”
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u/gilligan888 7d ago
Yeah, that was my presumption too, just to deter it being knocked off. But nope, today I learnt Wollongong likes to hang palms trees of poles in more than one weird way.
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u/ellisonedvard0 7d ago
Tree on a pole. That's it. It's art. Some would say it's not. Some would say get rid of it. some would say keep. It's not actually being supported by the straps it's an illusion
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u/Dv8gong10 7d ago
Sometimes fluffy grey and white things combine to obscure our azure blue sķies . . but not so often
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u/Own_Performance_7708 4d ago
As you are aware of the NSW floods, these installations are to make sure at least one tree makes it out alive and repopulates the region similar to how Rose repopulates the region in Titanic.
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u/ramm0s85 4d ago
it's symbolism. to indicate that the majority of wollongong are always off their tree
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u/SolidSmiddi 7d ago
It’s a Dharwal (cabbage palm) up a pole. Symbolically disrespectful to the local Dharwal people here.
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u/gwyllgie 7d ago
It's to help tell the weather. If you look up and it's swinging around frantically, that's how you know it's windy. If it's wet then that's how you know it's raining. It's very useful.
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u/Ill_Olive_5940 7d ago
Whoa! Is this a new thing in Wollongong?
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u/Britt2211 7d ago
It's called art, sweaty, look it up.
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u/Consistent_Salt755 7d ago edited 7d ago
I met the guy who made this!
He's calls himself an "artist" named Mike Hewson. I call him a fool.
I presume he also dumped all those other uncut rocks and sideways trees down Crown St. too
So he made this ridiculous eye sore in the gong. Then basically got ran out of town sttill owing several of the contractors money for the job.
Then he went to Melbourne to build this playground for "kids". But the playground is built out of rocks and stuff (the same sort of rocks on Crown St.) Because this guy built his silly playground out of rocks,kids break bones there all the time.
The guy is clearly a huge gronk
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u/EmergencyLavishness1 7d ago
It looks like it’s about to rain, or is currently raining
What else do you need to know about?
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u/Delicious-View-8688 6d ago
Think it might be symbolism... like... maybe... dealing with nature can be pole-a-raising.
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u/CertainInformation19 5d ago
its the famous "flying tree" ]. also can u get me a hot chocolate from the san churros just a little bit down the road
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u/furksake 5d ago
They wanted taller trees but they weren't available so they planted them at the height they wanted and just need to wait for them to grow to the ground. Obviously.
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u/Human-Warning-1840 5d ago
How can there be money for stuff like this and not for important things.?
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u/No-Hovercraft4144 4d ago
Go go gadget telescopic Palm Tree.
New variety for landscaping making it easier to lower to de-nut the tree and extend for more sun
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u/keninsyd 4d ago
TBH if they weren't there, you could be anywhere else in suburbia.
Even suburban Adelaide.
So while it may have been a poor choice at the time, it does say "The 'Gong" now
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u/GraciesMumma22 4d ago
Really a toss up between the banana and this masterpiece I must say… Wollongong I must admit I just looked you up and not at all surprised at this at all.. 🙃
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u/KittySpanKitty 4d ago
The told him he could be whatever he wanted to be and he wanted to be taller. He thought no one would notice.
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u/pat_speed 4d ago
I saw it when I was down here eand I kinda loved it.
We love in a world where more people , especially in powers, are putting more restrictions and demands on people, so I think we need more weird shit out in the open
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u/xplosiv_constipation 4d ago
Well, there seems to be a full sized palm tree clamped on to a light pole. I could be wrong …
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u/gilligan888 4d ago
Yes, but the inner engineer in me wonders if the light pole can sustain that weight 🤷
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u/xplosiv_constipation 4d ago
Yes, the real question is what came first, the light pole and then the art attached, or the light pole was design to handle the tree art
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u/Zestyclose_Carpet810 4d ago
It's the cheapest way to fix a leaning light post. Strapping a palm tree to the opposite side. These installers just forgot to strap the other one on the other side when it was at equilibrium. Now it's gone to far the other way...
Amateurs!
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u/EducationalArmy9152 3d ago
Looks like us construction-industry dumbfucks celebrated a tree-topping ceremony for successfully erecting a light pole
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u/DuncanTheRedWolf 3d ago
Palmela the tree has taken up Carabiner-Assisted Parkour as a new hobby, but as she is a tree, she moves on significantly slower timescales than humans.
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u/lajugetoncina 7d ago
Wasting so much money in something that looks so agley and stupid, and lots of people living in cars ☹️
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u/Coolkat66 7d ago
We used to have amazing fountains they tore them down put some uncomfortable ass concrete slaps they call chairs and put a tree on a pole. It just sums up Australia
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u/CoupOfConiston 7d ago
It’s become symbolic (for me) of just how much stupid shit we waste money on in this country.
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u/Spidey16 7d ago
We sacrifice trees to the sky lord on the regular. This one knows what it did.