Discover One Bright Pearl in Blackburn Gardens

Published on 14 December 2022

If you’re visiting Murray Rose Pool for a dip over the holidays, make sure to check out this brilliant new sculpture outside the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. 

One Bright Pearl, by internationally renowned artist Lindy Lee, is a 260kg mirror-polished stainless steel sculpture, measuring 2m in diameter.

Symbolic of the diversity of Woollahra’s community, One Bright Pearl reflects on new beginnings and modern migration.

The work was selected by Woollahra Council’s Public Art Panel and is the most significant commission by Woollahra Council with principal support from The Carla Zampatti Foundation and other commission donors.

“One Bright Pearl is inspired by the ancient Chinese story of the Dragon’s Ball, which is a symbol of universal wholeness, well-being, wisdom and spiritual power,” artist Lindy Lee said.

“During the day, the sculpture’s surface, with its mirror brightness, absorbs and reflects the fleeting and ever-changing pageantry of the surrounding world: the movements of people, sky, landscape, birds etc. At night, the work will be internally lit to allow light to flow back out into the world. The sculpture’s different changing daytime and night-time qualities embodies the cyclical nature of time,” she said.

Detail on One Bright Pearl

Susan Wynne, Mayor of Woollahra, commented “We are thrilled to be adding Lindy Lee’s striking sculpture ‘One Bright Pearl’ to our public art collection. With so many people visiting Woollahra Gallery, Murray Rose Pool and Blackburn Gardens, we hope this sculpture will be enjoyed by all.

“We are so grateful to our Principal Donor, The Carla Zampatti Foundation, and all the artwork commission donors who have helped fund the work and who share our commitment to enhancing our public spaces through art,” the Mayor said.

Alex Schuman, on behalf of Principal Donor, The Carla Zampatti Foundation added: “We support this sculpture as a celebration of Carla Zampatti’s outstanding career and life-long mission to empower women, champion multiculturalism and support the arts. It is an honour to support Lindy Lee’s spectacular artwork and her contribution to those same treasured values.”

Commission Donors for One Bright Pearl include Jillian Broadbent AC and Rahn Family; David Gonski AC and Orli Wargon OAM; Elizabeth and Walter Lewin; Scott Perkins; Vanessa Tay and Suzy and Philip Wolanski AM, on behalf of the Wolanski Foundation, in addition to anonymous donations.

Learn more about other pieces of public art in our local area.