TitleSculpture, Laperouse in AustraliaDate1988About this objectThis sculpture is a gift of the Laperouse Association for the Australian Bicentenary, where the artist gave a personal interpretation of the concept of "Anthropology". The sculpture contains many symbols related to France, including - and as per the artist statement: 1) the Fleur de Lis represents Christianity and the King of France;
2) Huon Pine represents the smoothness of civilisation coming from Europe, in contrast to the rough wood depicting Australia before development;
3) The inscription tells of the main aim of the modern navigators of this period - by describing the customs of unknown people, one would add to history;
4) The sun is the emblem of the Sun-King Louis XIV.
5) The middle wooden section symbolises the stockade built by Laperouse and his men in Frenchman’s Bay which they used as a shelter to protect themselves from the natives and protect the equipment they had to build long boats.
6) The fly-hooks are compared to the crudity of the old nail from a vessel of this period.
7) The red and white paint are the colours of the French flag and the orange and browns are Aboriginal colours.Object No.88.10Physical descriptionSeveral lengths of huon pine and weathered timber are arranged vertically and held together with brass hinges. Centrally is one panel with text painted in blue, red, black and white. Several pieces of lead sheeting are attached with nails to the vertical sections of wood and some of these are painted with red and orange pigments. On the proper right is a small tin with tiny fishing hooks inside, one the opposing side is a large corroded ferrous metal nail. The sculpture is supported at the base by a painted wooden plinth.CreatorTaylor, PeterInscriptions & marks"LAPEROUSE EN AUSTRALIE" with various other text printed in black in the backgound. DimensionsH: 2150 cm W: 1760 cmPlace madeAustraliaMaterialHuon pine timberStraighted Antique TimberBrassBronzeAluminiumFerrous metalPaintSourceLa Perouse MuseumProvenance Laperouse AssociationCredit lineCommissioned by the Laperouse Association in 1988 for the Australian Bicentennary as part of the collection of the Laperouse Museum.Acquisition date32261On displayNoTypeMuseum objectsOrganisations (Detailed entries)La Perouse Museum (La Perouse, N.S.W.)ThemesEuropean arrivals
Taylor, Peter, Sculpture, Laperouse in Australia (1988). Randwick City Council, accessed 05/06/2026, https://ourstory.randwick.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/12269
