Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148:front:0:p9
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00148
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 22934–25769

areas, Friends Lounge

Artworks
The building features a number of notable art works, both commissioned for the building when first opened, or subsequently acquired.  A large horizontal sculpture by Tom Bass over the public entrance, referred to both as the Lintel Sculpture and as Knowledge, was commissioned as part of the design and is a beaten copper bas-relief sculpture depicting themes derived from Sumerian seals, representing the sun (enlightenment), the tree of life, and the ark of knowledge.

Large stained glass windows by Leonard French are in-built decorative features within the entry café and bookshop (originally the lobby exhibition areas).  There are sixteen windows in total, six pairs of windows and four single windows made from Saint Gobain dalle de verre glass.  These 50 mm thick glass pieces are each cut and chipped to maximise light refraction.  Every panel comprises four sections with the dominant images of crosses, stars and mandalas, and the general theme is the planets.  The panels range through the colours of the spectrum, with blue representing the planet Venus and red the planet Mars.  Each window has four sections and each overall window is 3.3 metres high and 1.25 metres wide.

The lobby also features three Aubusson tapestries designed by the French artist, Mathieu Matégot, with woven images of Australia.  Matégot visited Australia, and his three tapestries hung in the foyer depict a radio telescope at Woomera (not Parkes, as commonly believed), Australian flora, the Great Barrier Reef, a pineapple, a riverboat, the Sydney Opera House and a ram's head.  The tapestries are made of Australian wool.

A series of seven copper panels is located above the General Reading Room bay windows on the exterior lake side of the building.  The panels were designed within Bunning & Madden's office by Arthur Robb.  The panels have striking patterns of circles, diamonds, crosses and other shapes, based on gladiator's shields, and echoing the geometric patterns in Leonard French's windows.[2]

The fountain opposite the entry steps (and not owned or managed by the Library) was designed by the Bunning & Madden office.

  Figure 22.  One of the Robb panels above a Reading Room window
  Source:  Duncan Marshall 2017

In the grounds surrounding the Library (but not owned or managed by the Library) is the Henry Moore sculpture Two Piece Reclining Figure Number 9.  The Moore sculpture is located on land managed by the National Capital Authority, and is a Commonwealth asset administered by them.

These latter items are therefore not items whose conservation is directly covered by this conservation management plan, though their contribution to the significance of the place is highlighted later in the plan.

Other newer art works include the Alice Kettle embroideries in the Main Reading