Sydney

Our hotel is just a short walk from the Circle Quai, the center of Sydney's harbor activity. Ferries are constantly going and coming to the nearby islands and communities. One of the islands is Cockatoo Island, where we went on our first morning to see a major part of the Sydney Biennial, which happens to be running now. Its an island full of gigantic, old industrial facilities, now occupied in part by art installations. Most notable among them is a 180-foot long piece by Ai Wei Wei, depicting boat refugees. It contains 100 men, 90 woman, 45 children and 45 babies, 2 or 3 times larger than life-size. It is all made of inflatable rubber of the same type used to make the boats used by refugees. And it was fabricated by the same German company that makes those boats.

Note: Temperature reached 102 degrees on our return to Sydney from Cockatoo Island.

Sydney Harbor, Harbor Bridge, ferries in action, part of promenade.

Cockatoo Island with city center in distance

Ai Wei Wei's Refugee Boat

Closeup

A noteworthy piece by Yukinori Yanagi in which a giant suspended eyeball also shows images of atomic explosions.

Returning on ferry

Entrance stairway of Museum of Contemporary Art where Biennial continues

Museum Cafe where a nice salad lunch was eaten before continuing.

One of a group of aboriginal embroidered stuffed sculptures in the show.

Echidna - Spiny anteater

Sydney Opera House, seen from returning ferry.