Top5Feet - Art & About

Overview

If you didn't already get goosebumps walking past Paddington's mysterious Reservoir Gardens at night, you sure will now. The rejuvenated public park has been bathed in a light installation that makes it look like its full of water, complete with a single swimmer. This is Top5Feet, an intervention of light, glass, sound and projection that playfully nods to the history of the Paddington Reservoir.

For local residents, the Paddington Reservoir Gardens are a serene pocket of green sunk beneath busy Oxford Street, but there once was a time when the eponymous reservoir served as a water source for a growing Sydney. Unfortunately, the reservoir's use was limited by a design flaw that meant only the top five feet of catchment could run to nearby properties.

It's this quirk that gave inspiration to Australian artist and architect Dale Jones-Evans, who collaborated with Axolotl Art Projects in the creation of Top5Feet. “The artwork references the reservoir’s original purpose and emphasises its shortcomings," says Jone-Evans, “reflective lighting from the lower floor will create an illusion that the reservoir is full of water, while lighting of the upper arches will help create a beautiful, ethereal atmosphere." Visitors to the Gardens will share this space with a ghostly, lone swimmer who laps continuously from one end of the pool to the other.

Art & About is famous for its springtime art installations across Sydney. This is the first time the festival is presenting artworks outside of its traditional schedule, aiming to reach and delight a wider audience throughout the year.

Top5Feet is free to visit and will start each day at dusk until May 24.