Perth Airport has commissioned around $100,000 in public art to adorn its 2,105 hectare site on the outskirts of Perth.
The artwork will be visible to the thousands of motorists accessing the international terminal via Horrie Miller Drive, and form part of the first impressions of new visitors to the state.
The works from prominent Western Australian artist, Jon Tarry, will be a series of large totem-like permanent sculptures.
The structures will be sculpted from timber salvaged from development sites across Perth and the completed piece will be made up of a number of winged forms representing a fusion between the wing of the rainbow bee eater and an aircraft.
The rainbow bee eater was chosen because it is commonly seen at Perth Airport during summer.
Mr Tarry has achieved international acclaim for his sculpture with permanent installations across Australia, Europe and the US in a career spanning 25 years. He also lectures at UWA.
Mr Tarry was chosen after an intensive process which involved an initial invitation to artists to submit their ideas. Short-listed artists then presented their concepts in person.
The public artwork will be commissioned formally in June of this year.
It is expected that further public artwork at Perth Airport will be commissioned over time.
