The centre is a concrete map of Australia, incorporating Horton's map of the tribal boundaries of indigenous Australia and standard English language markings. The map spills into a pond. Surrounding it are structures referring to the suburban back yard, the nostalgic longing for Europe symbolised by a large phoenix palm and the blue poles from Jackson Pollock's painting. It does look a little like a fun park, but there's also a view of the pond from inside the First Australians gallery where it forms a stunning backdrop to a Torres Strait Islander canoe. In time, Australians will decide how they see this new national institution and its tangled vision.
Life is a cabaret . . .
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