The Big Powerful Owl is a sculpture 8 m (26 ft) tall, [1] designed by Bruce Armstrong and located in the Belconnen District of Canberra, Australia; it depicts a powerful owl (Ninox strenua). [2]
Built in 2011, it is one of the numerous Australia's big things, with this being only one of many in the ACT. [3] [4]
Reception
The shape of the owl has been criticised for its phallic shape, [5] however, it remains a tourist attraction, with Tara Cheyne calling it a "must see". [6] [7] The work has been nicknamed the 'penis owl'. [8]
The statue has also been prone to graffiti; the ACT government had to spend A$3000 on cleaning it. [1]
References
- ^ a b Burgess, Katie (18 July 2017). "ACT government to install CCTV cameras to stop vandalism of the Belconnen Owl". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Directorate, ACT Government (29 November 2018). "Owl". www.arts.act.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Grenkowitz, Max (2010). "Big Things in Australia: ACT, NT, TAS". max.grenkowitz.net. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Earthwanderer, Emma (18 December 2020). "130+ 'Big Things' NSW & ACT". myrigadventures.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ Reinfrank, Alkira (28 April 2016). "Where does our public art come from?". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ "'Penis Owl' to stolen bull testicles: Australia's strangest statues". NewsComAu. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Warden, Ian (10 August 2019). "Freudian fears of brave public art". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
- ^ Black, Michael (16 November 2018). "Canberra's notorious penis owl may have some stiff competition". ABC News. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
35°14′51″S 149°04′03″E / 35.24759°S 149.06752°E
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