Artwork Description
Cook + Phillip Park Pool is located in Sydney’s CBD, between Hyde Park’s Sandringham Gardens, and the Fragrance Garden in Cook and Phillip Park.
Philippa Playford’s Poolside Cocktail – Coral is a brightly coloured sculpture designed specifically for the aquatic centre’s leisure pool, created to be functional as well as decorative.
‘Coral’ is a smiling ‘monster’ figure – which also acts as a wave wall, protecting the indoor toddlers’ play area from the rest of the pool.
The sculpture is created from concrete and glass mosaic tiles, to withstand their constant exposure to water and weather and decorated with bold, colourful mosaic designs. Playford found inspiration for the designs in natural foliage, such as seeds and pods, which she collected from the area before the leisure centre was built.
The style is quirky, naïve and playful, with a fun, cartoon-like quality that makes ‘Coral’ popular with visitors of all ages.
