The Big Powerful Owl in September 2018

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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Directorate, ACT Government (29 November 2018). "Owl". www.arts.act.gov.au. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  3. ^ Grenkowitz, Max (2010). "Big Things in Australia: ACT, NT, TAS". max.grenkowitz.net. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  4. ^ Earthwanderer, Emma (18 December 2020). "130+ 'Big Things' NSW & ACT". myrigadventures.com. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  5. ^ Reinfrank, Alkira (28 April 2016). "Where does our public art come from?". abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  6. ^ "'Penis Owl' to stolen bull testicles: Australia's strangest statues". NewsComAu. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  7. ^ Warden, Ian (10 August 2019). "Freudian fears of brave public art". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. ^ 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 / -35.24759; 149.06752


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