It’s one of the most famous pieces of public art in Sydney, but in just a matter of weeks, Reko Rennie’s ‘Always Was Always Will Be’ is set to be removed.
Located on the T2 building in Taylor Square, ‘Always Was Always Will Be’ has been one of the most visible and most famous pieces of art in Sydney since its creation in 2012.
Commissioned by the City of Sydney and intended to be a six-month installation, Melbourne artist Reko Rennie created this influential piece of artwork as a way to reference his association with the Kamilaroi people of north-western NSW, and has been viewed as a crucial statement in regards to the reclamation of Indigenous land.
However, as The Sydney Morning Herald reports, the artwork will not be around for much longer, as the City of Sydney prepares the building for sale.
“Although this artwork holds significance to Sydney’s Indigenous community, it was not commissioned as part of the Eora journey program that celebrates living culture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities,” a statement from the council said. “It was always intended to be a temporary piece.”
Linda Scott, a councillor for Labor, stated that she was “deeply opposed” to the sale of the building by the council.
“Rather than stripping this building of public art and selling it off to the highest bidder, I’m yet again calling on the Lord Mayor to keep this building in public hands and use it to lead the revitalisation of Oxford Street,” she said.
“Taylor Square is an iconic public space in Sydney, and we can’t afford to get it wrong.”
The council has announced that the artwork is set to be painted over on November 20th, so if you’re yet to see this iconic piece of Sydney art, make sure you head along and view it before it’s gone.
