![Skywhales: Every heart sings image](/media/8395/papawhale_00102.jpg?center=0.49808429118773945,0.51530612244897955&mode=crop&width=380&height=500&rnd=132948397580000000)
Skywhales: Every heart sings
Patricia Piccinini
Australia
ENESS
Australia
You’re cruising past familiar hardware shops and fast-food outlets when suddenly, wha...? A gigantic cupid surrounded by 10 oversized goldfish in mock terrazzo ponds? Have the good burghers of Mount Barker District Council gone mad? Have they commissioned some folly to trump Tailem Bend’s rhino or Kingston’s cray?
No, they’ve partnered with the Adelaide Festival to delight you and your family. The world’s first inflatable fountain is brought to you by ENESS, the creators of Airship Orchestra, a hit of Illuminate Adelaide. You might remember how nice it felt on a cold winter’s night to be crooned to by lullingly benign aliens. Well, this five-metre-high cherub may also boast cute LED eyes and an interactive soundtrack, but he’s prone to squirting you with jets of water – and on a scorching summer afternoon that’s nothing to whinge about.
ENESS could easily be a team of magical elves but are in fact an Australian collective who make truly wonderful things. Since 1997, this group of artists, musicians, software engineers, industrial designers and thinkers have entranced children and adults from museums of modern art to the streets of Mumbai.
They call themselves ‘Happiness Architects’ and their aim is to change public space by introducing unexpected artworks that forge deeper moments between friends, family and enable strangers to meet and find common ground. We think that’s about the best mission statement ever.
The knavish lad is holding court for six fun-filled days only. Pack the kids in the car and zip up to Mount Barker. Make a day of it and take advantage of the Koi Trail through town (beautifully organised by Mount Barker District Council!).
Please see our Cupid's Koi Garden FAQs page for information about access, facilities and more.