A sculpture depicting a decaying shark has been installed near the fisherman's wharf on the Port Macquarie foreshore.
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The sculpture, named The Decomporsi, was created in 2018 at a masterclass led by internationally renowned artist, designer, and teacher Roberto Giordani.
Blacksmith artists from the Port Macquarie-Hastings forged the elements, which have been connected through various joinery methods at Eveleigh Works metal studio in Sydney.
Mr Giordani explained the artistic direction of the sculpture was forged by his love of the ocean and his appreciation of its delicate ecosystem, while alluding to his frustration towards the pollution of our seas and the culling of our sea life.
"We are literally killing off our sea life with what we as a nation dump in the sea," Mr Giordani said.
"Decomporsi shows the majesty and elegance of the shark, yet its body is decaying, sloughing, suffering, and falling apart and dying... will we take any notice and act/react? Only time will tell."
The impressive and thought-provoking sculpture was generously donated to the Port Macquarie-Hastings community by the coordinator of Eveleigh Works, Matt Mewburn, as a part of the National Cultural Gifts Program.
"This sculpture was an international collaboration and a rare opportunity for the artist blacksmithing community to work on such a scale. I'm delighted that in that spirit, we can share the fruits of our passion with the wider community," he said.
Council group manager Liesa Davies noted the significance of the donation.
"The sculpture adds to the cultural fabric of our region's public art collection, tells an important story and acts as a symbol for a greater cause," Ms Davies said.
"We are fortunate to live in such a beautiful and abundant environment, and The Decomporsi serves as a reminder not to take that for granted."
In early 2019, the Artists Blacksmiths Association of NSW exhibited a range of works at the Glasshouse in an exhibition titled Discovery FE26.
The Decomporsi was to feature within the exhibition, however, unfortunately at 3.5m-long, was too large to be included.
It is now a permanent feature on the foreshore.
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